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I am a first year NFHS lacrosse official and I don't understand the positioning of players at each end of the field during a faceoff.
I have been told by a few veteran officials that during a faceoff, the players behind the defensive area line could not go into the area between the goal area and the sideline until there was possession. Since Rule 1-2-4 states "Defensive are lines shall be parallel to the end line and marked on each side of the field 20 yards from the goal line and extend from sideline to sideline. The defensive area line shall coincide with the 40 yard portion of the goal area line", I thought that the players awaiting the faceoff could be lined up anywhere from sideline to sideline behind the defensive area line. Rule 4-4 states "The positions of the other players on the field, before the start of a faceoff, shall be as follows: ART1: When a team has all of its players on the field, it shall confine its goal-keeper and three other players behind the defensive area line..."
Can someone please explain the positioning of players during the faceoff and when they are released other than by possession?
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