Paris 2024 Olympics: Why is one player on the volleyball team wearing a different color? Positions, rules, format

Keen observers may have noticed that on each team one player wears a different colored shirt than the other team members.

This is because they play in a specific position, called “libero”, and are defensive specialists.

A volleyball squad consists of 12 members, and two of them can play as liberos, which comes with its own set of limitations.

The other positions are point guard, center, attacker and weakside attacker.

Libero players cannot block the attack at the net or jump and attack the ball. They can only play in the back row.

The libero, introduced in 1996 by the International Volleyball Federation, bolstered the defensive strategy of the sport and gave shorter players a greater role in the game.

Although teams can consist of 12 players, there can only be six on the court at any one time, separated by a net in the middle.

Volleyball has been an integral part of the Olympic Games since 1968. In Paris, the volleyball competitions last from July 27 to August 11.

Olympic volleyball will be played at the South Paris Arena, part of the Paris Expo Convention Centre. The arena is also home to handball, table tennis and weightlifting.

Olympic volleyball matches are played to five sets. The first four sets are played to 25 points, and the fifth set to 15.

Each team has six players on the court. Players can touch the ball a maximum of three times before it goes over the net.

A point is scored when the ball touches the ground or when a team makes a violation.

Faults include touching the net with the body, the same player hitting the ball twice in a row, failing to touch the ball three times or hitting the ball over the sideline.

The volleyball competition involves 12 men’s and women’s teams, divided into three groups of four teams (previously there were two groups of six teams).

Teams that win their group stage matches in three or four sets will receive three points, while the losers will receive zero points.

Winners of five-set matches receive two points, losers receive one point.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout round and will then face the two best third-placed teams.