Normally, two or three foreign players are permitted on any one team. There are countries, however, that have an unlimited number of foreign spots. Examples include: Austria, Holland, Germany and Switzerland; Switzerland now requires 2 Swiss players on court at all times, not including libero. Spain can have 6 foreigners and Portugal permits up to 5. Finland can have 3. France must have a certain amount of French players and only two foreigners from out of the “Euro-Zone”. The rules fluctuate every few years, and differ in each country and league, so please ask us if you have questions about a certain league. It is not uncommon to have two Americans on the same team (or more), and BIP tries to place Americans together whenever possible. Of course such a scenario is not guaranteed.
Due to these foreigner rules, teams sign pro players not solely to fill roster spots but because they need better players than they already have. Remember that a local athlete may play for peanuts compared to a “pro” that costs at least $5000 in fees alone (Visa, Transfers, etc.), not to mention salary, apartment, etc.
In Puerto Rico, teams were allowed 2 foreigners in 2017, but the owners voted to move to 4 foreigners in 2018 as another example as to how hard it can be to keep track of all of these foreigner rules.