How Tall Are Liberos In Volleyball? Libero Height Requirements
To succeed in volleyball, a libero doesn’t necessarily have to be exceptionally tall.
While taller players may have some advantages, success as a libero is not solely determined by height.
At the Olympic level, the average libero height of a men’s libero is approximately 185cm or 6 feet, and for women, it’s around 166cm or 5 feet 5 inches.
However, these averages don’t dictate the absolute requirement for success.
Height is just one factor among many that contribute to a libero’s effectiveness on the court.
What’s The Average Height Of A Libero?
Typically, the libero tends to be the shortest player on the volleyball court.
However, what’s more intriguing is how this height compares to that of other positions on the court.
Average Height Of A Libero Vs Other Positions
In the 2012 Olympics, intriguing data was released regarding the correlation between height and player positions in volleyball.
| Team/ Function | RUS | BRA | ITA | BUL | Average height per player function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libero’s | 188 | 184 | 183 185 | 185 | 185 |
| Setters | 195 | 190 191 | 200 194 | 202 196 | 195 |
| Receiver- atteckers | 205 196 202 197 | 190 192 194 201 | 196 195 202 | 191 200 | 197 |
| Opposites | 202 218 | 198 212 | 202 | 200 206 | 205 |
| Middle blockers | 203 210 218 | 203 209 | 202 204 | 204 206 208 | 206 |
| Average of Country | 203 | 197 | 196 | 200 |
This data reveals that, on average, liberos were approximately 10cm (4 inches) shorter than the next shortest position on the court, which happened to be the setter.
This height contrast explains why liberos often appear noticeably smaller compared to the rest of the team when watching volleyball matches on television.
Middle Vs Libero Height In Volleyball
On average, the middle blocker tends to be over 8 inches taller than the libero, resulting in a significant height disparity between these positions.
Average Libero Height In The Olympics
Over the years, the average height of an Olympic libero has remained relatively consistent.
At 185cm or 6 feet, the average height of an Olympic men’s volleyball libero has been steady.
This conclusion is drawn from height data collected during the 2012 Olympics and observations of the current top 5 liberos in the world, who also average 185cm in height.
USA Libero Height
When it comes to height, the Team USA liberos also match the trend observed in Olympic volleyball.
- Erik Shoji – 184cm
- Kyle Dagostino – 175cm
- Mason Briggs – 183cm
Average Libero Height In College Volleyball
According to data from the NCSA website, the average height for men’s college volleyball liberos is provided below.
Men’s College Libero Height Ranges
| Division | D1/D2 | D2/D3 | D3/NAIA | NAIA/CCCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 5’8″ – 6’2″ (173cm – 188cm) | 5’8″ – 6’1″ (173cm – 185.5cm) | 5’8″ – 6’1″ (173cm – 185.5cm) | 5’8″ – 6’3″ (173cm – 190.5cm) |
Below are the average heights for women’s college volleyball players, as per the data available.
Women’s College Libero Average Heights
| Division | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 5’6 (168cm) | 5’5″ (165cm) | 5’5″ (165cm) | 5’5″ (165cm) |
How Important Is Height For A Libero?
In essence, the required height for a libero in volleyball isn’t set in stone. While average heights provide a general guideline, success in the position depends on various factors beyond just height.
Height Is Almost Completely Inconsequential
Fortunately, height doesn’t significantly impact a libero’s performance in volleyball.
Being too tall might pose a potential issue, although it’s a relatively rare occurrence.
While the average height of liberos stands around 6 feet for men, it’s worth noting that many professional liberos are notably shorter than this average.
Shortest Libero In Volleyball
At a mere 5’5″ (165cm), Farhad Zarif from Iran holds the title of the shortest libero in men’s volleyball.
Additionally, Taichiro Koga from Japan stands at just 5’7″ tall. Numerous other liberos also share similar heights around this range.
Can You Be Too Tall To Play Libero?
The determining factor for being too tall to play libero revolves around whether your height impairs your ability to effectively dig volleyball.
Typically, the best diggers exhibit lightning-fast reflexes and operate close to the ground.
If you stand at 195cm tall, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to achieve the same level of agility and efficiency in digging as someone who is 185cm tall and possesses superior speed and nimbleness.
As a result, the optimal height for liberos tends to max out around 190cm tall. While it’s still possible to succeed as a taller libero, it might present greater challenges.
Libero Height Requirements For Volleyball Scholarships
When examining the recruiting guidelines for college volleyball scholarships, it’s evident that even for liberos, there are certain height expectations.
For women, prospective liberos realistically need to meet a minimum height requirement of around 5’5″ or taller.
Female Volleyball Scholarships:
| NCAA DI | NCAA DII | NCAA DIII | NAIA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libero’s/ Defensive Specialist | 5’5”+ | 5’3”+ | 5’2”+ | 5’2”+ |
| Middle Hitter | 6’1”+ | 5’10”+ | 5’10”+ | 5’9”+ |
| Outside Hitter/ Right Side | 6’+ | 5’11”+ | 5’9”+ | 5’8”+ |
| Setter | 5’10”+ | 5’9”+ | 5’6”+ | 5’4”+ |
For men, college volleyball scholarship recruiting guidelines typically stipulate a desired height of around 6 feet for liberos.
Male Volleyball Scholarships:
| NCAA DI | NCAA DII | NCAA DII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libero’s/ Defensive Specialist | 6’+ | 5’8”+ | 5’8”+ |
| Middle Hitter | 6’6”+ | 6’5”+ | 6’3”+ |
| Outside Hitter/ Right Side | 6’4”+ | 6’3”+ | 6’1”+ |
| Setter | 6’3”+ | 6’0”+ | 6’0”+ |
If you fall short of these height requirements, there’s no need to worry.
Knowledgeable scouts recognize that height plays a minimal role in the libero position.
Even if you don’t meet the specified height range but exhibit exceptional talent as a libero, you can still secure a scholarship.
Instead Of Height, Liberos Should Focus On These Areas…
Ultimately, as a libero or defensive specialist, height shouldn’t be a major concern.
Instead, there are two key aspects to concentrate on if you aim to excel in volleyball as a libero.
Passing Consistency
The first crucial aspect of success as a libero is your ability to pass the volleyball effectively.
In essence, a libero who struggles with passing is akin to an ashtray on a motorbike: utterly ineffective.
The good news is that improving your passing skills is relatively straightforward through consistent training.
Assuming your passing technique is solid, the key is to simply pass more volleyballs.
If your opponents are practicing passing 300 balls per week, aim to double that amount and pass 600 volleyballs weekly. This dedicated practice regimen will undoubtedly lead to rapid improvement in your passing abilities.
Digging Consistency
For liberos, while passing is essential, what truly sets them apart is their ability to dig.
A significant portion of successful digging boils down to mastering the technique.
Additionally, speed and explosive power play crucial roles in enhancing a libero’s digging capabilities.
Equally important is the relentless determination to chase after every ball, without hesitation.
For inspiration and insight into elite-level digging, I highly recommend studying the unparalleled skills of Jenia Grebennikov, widely regarded as the greatest libero of all time.
Parting Thoughts
At this point, it should be clear that height doesn’t hold much significance for liberos.
Height becomes a potential issue only when it exceeds around 193-194cm, as taller players may struggle with agility and speed, impacting their defensive prowess.
Conversely, being exceptionally short shouldn’t pose a problem if you compensate with exceptional digging skills.
Also Read: What Is A Libero In Volleyball? [2024]