Tap Edit on a lineup. Under Liberos, pick a serve receive libero and, if your rules allow two, a serving libero, then list who the libero replaces in order. Under Substitutions, add who comes in for whom and whether it's when that spot is front row or back row.
Set up your liberos
- Open the lineup. On Rotations, tap Edit on the lineup panel and scroll to Liberos.
- Pick the liberos. Choose the Serve receive libero. If your rulebook allows two liberos per set, choose a Serving libero too, or Same libero to use one.
- Choose who the libero replaces. List the players in priority order. When you're receiving, the libero comes in for the first player on the list who's in the back row (usually your middles).
- Decide whether the libero serves. Turn on Libero may serve and choose whose serve the libero takes under Libero serves for, or pick Nobody.
- Save. Rotato updates every rotation, and the libero's label on the board says who they're in for ("for #8") and whose serve they take ("serves for #8").
How does Rotato decide where the libero is?
When you receive, the libero is in for the first listed player who's in the back row. When you side out, the libero stays in for that same player as long as they're still in the back row and not serving; otherwise the libero sits out that serve.
Why does the libero sit out a serve?
Because the rules need a completed rally before the libero can come back in for a different player. If the player the libero was in for rotates to the front row, the libero has to leave, and switching to someone else waits until a rally is played. Rotato shows a note on the board when this happens. The details are in libero rules.
Can I use two liberos?
Yes, if your rules allow it. NFHS (2026–27), USAV and NCAA all let a team list up to two liberos, with only one on the court at a time. A common setup is one libero for serve receive and the other when you serve. Rotato never puts two liberos on the court together.
Add a substitution
- Open Substitutions. In the lineup editor, tap Add substitution.
- Pick the spot and the player. Choose the serve-order spot and who Comes in for that spot's starter.
- Pick when. Choose when back row (for example a DS for an outside) or when front row (for example a right side for a 6-2 setter).
- Save. Rotato makes the swap in every rotation that needs it.
How does Rotato count subs?
The lineup panel shows how many subs your lineup uses each time through all six rotations, next to your rulebook's limit per set (for example 18 for NFHS or 15 for USAV). Libero replacements don't count as substitutions.
A sub can only come back into the spot they went in for, so a substitution is tied to one spot in the serve order. Confirm sub limits with your state association or region, since some modify them.