Why does one player wear a different colour in volleyball at the Olympics?

Volleyball is one of the most popular events at the Olympics for fans hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the lesser-known sports at any Games.

And viewers tuning in to watch the volleyball competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics may well note a quirk – one player is wearing a different colour shirt to their teammates.

But what exactly is the reasoning behind this different coloured outfit?

Here is everything you need to know.

Why does one player wear a different colour in volleyball?

The player who wears a different colour top is called a libero.

Libero’s are defensive players, and their role comes with a number of playing restrictions.

A libero is only allowed to be positioned in the back row and they are not permitted to block a shot at the net or jump and spike a ball at the front.

The contrasting colour is to help the referees spot them easily and to help enforce the rules of the game.

Whilst the player wears a different top, their colour is still usually one of their nation’s official colours.

Volleyball squads consists of 12 players, of which two of them can be designated as the libero.

Only six members of the squad can be on court at any one time, however, with only one libero.

The role was first introduced into the sport by the International Volleyball Federation in 1996.

How does volleyball work and how many sets are there at the Olympics?

Volleyball at the Olympics consists of four sets, with the first team to reach 25 points winning the set.

Should the two teams be tied on two sets apiece, then a deciding fifth set, with the first to reach 15 points, deciding the winner.

Each teams can touch the ball three times before the ball has to be returned back to their opponents.

France are the men’s defending champions from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, whilst the USA are the reigning champions in the women’s competition.

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