Karch Kiraly and Luka Slabe talk extensively in this video about various ways to train liberos and defenders.
They begin with “Blitz the Bro,” a 6 v 6 drill where servers target the libero. Points are played out like a regular 6 v 6 game. Karch says the U.S. national team uses this drill about once a week to challenge the libero with facing multiple serves.
Next up is “Fire Drill.” In this 6 v 6 drill, every player gets a chance to play every position by rotating after every point. Attacks are half speed, and the player in right back is always the setter.
“The main point of this drill is giving the players some empathy for how hard it is to play other positions,” Karch says. “You get to use every skill.”
Another drill, “Neville’s Pepper Drill,” awards a point for each dig and another point for winning a rally. All attacks are from the back row. If you dig over the net, you lose a point. If you don’t pursue a ball, you lose all your points. To give the libero more work, this drill can be modified so all first attacks go to Zone 5 where the libero is playing.
“You can modify this game any way you want,” Slabe says. “But you should always be rewarded for a good dig.”
Another game in this video requires the libero to set when the setter plays the first ball.
The video concludes with a game-planning exercise designed to teach the libero to coordinate with the block.