This Rules Interpretation Bulletin is intended to clear up what may be a misinterpretation of the new Libero uniform rule for the '08-'09 season.

USAV 19.2(a) states: “The Libero player’s jersey must contrast in color with that of the predominant colors of the other members of the team. Color combinations such as purple/black, dark green/black, navy/maroon, and white/light yellow are not distinctive enough to comply with the rules.”

This was purposefully left slightly vague, per the YJOVD and Executive Council's direction, to allow for some creativity in the design of the jersey.

First, this does not mean that the Libero's jersey may not contain any colors that are on the team's regular jersey. It means that the Libero's jersey, taken as a whole, must contrast in color with any predominant color of the team’s regular jersey. For example, a team’s regular jersey is red with white trim or design. The trim or design is a small part of the total jersey area, and is thus determined not to be a predominant color. The Libero jersey for this team is white with the same design or trim as the team’s regular jersey, but in red. This is the classic "home and away" jersey set, common for many teams. Since the red and white are contrasting, and the Libero jersey, taken as a whole, is almost all white, and the white in the regular team jersey is not considered a "predominant color", this is a legal regular/Libero jersey combination. It meets the letter, and certainly the spirit and intent, of the regulation. If the jerseys were reversed (regular team is in the white, and the Libero is in the red), this is also a legal combination.

Next, let's consider a combination that would not be legal. If the regular team jersey is white, with 12" red side panels, and the Libero jersey is red, with 12" white side panels, this combination does not meet the regulation. It shouldn’t stretch the imagination to declare that in both of these jerseys, red and the white are predominant colors.

In the spirit of the rule, once "trim" becomes wider than about 2 inches, it no longer fits the widely accepted definition of trim, and starts to become a "panel" on the jersey. While the presence of these panels, even in a non-contrasting color, does not in and of itself make the jersey illegal, the colors in these panels on the jersey are much more likely to be considered as a "predominant" color on the jersey. Alternatively, even if the color stripe making up the design or trim is sufficiently narrow, it still may be considered a predominant color if it is not used sparingly in the design of the jersey.

- Steve Thorpe, USA Volleyball Rules Interpreter

1. The colors of a team’s primary jerseys are red, white and blue. The three colors are used equally on the panels of the jerseys, excluding trim on the collar and sleeves. The team’s Libero wears a solid red jersey, which is the same red color used on the team’s primary jerseys. Does this represent appropriate contrast for the Libero’s uniform?
   
   Ruling: No. The fact that each color makes up one-third of the jersey makes each a predominant color of that jersey.

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2. A team wears the white jersey (below left) as the team’s primary jersey. The Libero jersey is the multi-colored jersey (below right). Does this combination meet the rule requirements for contrast?
   
   
   
   Ruling: Yes

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3. As seen below, a team’s jerseys are yellow, and the numbers are formed by a ½” shadow border. The border clearly contrasts with the yellow; however the numbers are the same yellow color as the jersey. Are these jerseys legal?
   
   
   
   Ruling: Yes

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4. Of the four jerseys below, which, if any, of the color combinations are legal for a team’s primary jersey and the Libero jersey?
   
   
   a. Black – Navy Blue Ruling: No
   b. Black – Royal Blue Ruling: Possibly, but there are various shade of royal blue. Some may be legal, but most are not. The above combination is problematic, as even if the actual jerseys match the picture exactly, they are right on the border of not being allowable.
   c. Black – Red Ruling: With this exact red, yes. As with royal blue, there are various red shades. Dark reds which trend toward maroon would not be legal.
   d. Navy Blue – Royal Blue Ruling: No
   e. Navy Blue – Red Ruling: Yes
   f. Royal Blue – Red Ruling: Yes
   

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5. A team’s primary jersey is red with navy trim (A below). The team’s Libero jersey uses the same red and navy color design, but the colors scheme is reversed (B below). Does this color combination meet rule requirements?
   
   
   
   Ruling: Yes, as long as the red in jersey A provides enough contrast with the blue in jersey B.

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6. With tie-dyed jerseys in general, if a team’s primary jersey is a tie-dyed color combination, can the team’s Libero jersey be any of those colors??
   
   Ruling: In general, no. But there may be cases where a tie-dyed jersey looks to be predominantly one color, and in that case, it may be that a Libero jersey of the less-than-predominant color would be allowable.
   

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7. A team’s primary jersey is red with gray trim (A below). The Libero’s jersey is solid gray (B below). Does this color combination meet rule requirements?
   
   
   Ruling: Yes, as long as the gray in jersey B provides enough contrast with the red in jersey A.
   

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8. If a team’s primary jersey is tie-dyed purple and white (as seen below), can the Libero’s jersey be either solid purple or solid white?
   
   
   Ruling: No

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9. If the team’s Libero jersey is tie-dyed green and white (as seen below), can the team’s primary jersey be dark gray (as seen below)?
   
   
   Ruling: With this dark gray color, yes.

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10. The jersey on the left in the photo below is a team’s primary jersey. The jersey on the right is the team’s Libero jersey. Does this color combination meet the rule requirements for contrast?
    
    
    Ruling: No (NOTE: In Example #9 above, the green and gray colors are similar to the photo above; however, the tie-dye design makes that jersey lighter in color than the solid green jersey in the photo, above right. Consequently, the tie-dye provides a more sufficient contrast with the solid gray jersey. There is little contrast between the two jerseys in the photo.).

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11. A team’s jerseys are seen below. . The primary jersey is white with black sleeves; the Libero jersey is gray with red sleeves.
    
    
    a. Does this combination of jerseys meet the rule requirements for contrast? Ruling: No
    b. If the team’s Libero jersey is the white jersey with navy sleeves (below left), can the team’s primary jersey be the same navy blue? Ruling: Yes
    c. If the team’s primary jersey is the gray jersey with red sleeves (below right), can the team’s Libero jersey be red? Gray? Ruling: Yes