Spacing for defense?
 

Team A's out of bounds. Team A stacks four players tightly together. The question B2 wants to get in between A1 and A2. If B2 requests - can the official force A1 and A2 to separate to allow B2 into the stack?

Get Out Your Protractor ...
 

It depends. Are the four Team A players parallel, or perpendicular, to the boundary, and how close are they to said boundary?

Now before you answer, let me get out my sine, cosine, and tangent tables. Or better yet, here's a chance for me to use the new slide rule that I bought myself for Christmas. That's right, you heard me, it's brand new. They are still making them.

See 7-6-5

Protractor? Slide Rule?
 

BillyMac - I carry a lot of stuff with me to games.....but these two items are not among them! ;)

This is easy.

A sine is what says STOP at the end of the road.

Cosine is when you help your kids borrow money. (often ends badly)

Tangent is a small citrus fruit, kinda like an orange.

For Players, Coaches, and Fans ...
 

Teammates shall not occupy adjacent positions which are parallel
to and within 3 feet of the boundary line if an opponent desires one of the
positions.

Most stack plays are perpendicular to the OOB line, so it's legal. Whoever gets there first gets the spot. I've also seen the defense actually get there first and the offense try to move them. Either way, first to the spot gets it.

I haven't done it in years but I would bet that I can still play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" on the slide. :)

I had a math teacher in HS who had a slide rule tie bar. :)

Cool ...
 

I remember those. They actually worked. My high school chemistry teacher had one. It would be worth big bucks today.

So if A1 is taking the ball out of bounds and A2-A5 are standing shoulder to shoulder as per above (parallel to and within 3 feet of OOB line) and B1 wants to get in between A2 and A3, you have to let them? When does this have to take place, before you give the ball to A1?

EDIT: another question... what if B1 and B2 wants to get in between A2 and A3? Is it only allowing one opponent in between any two players, or can as many opponents request to get in between any two players?

Yes, prior to the throw-in. See 7.6.5

The rule says teammates shall not occupy adjacent positions. This would apply to both offense and defense.

1) Yes and yes. Sigh.

2) Only one (because if there were two, then the offense could request to get in between those two)

adjacent?
 

adjacent posistions - Is this side by side as in BillyMac's post? Or front to back as in a "stack"? or both?

thanks..