Had a 1st last night

[REFANDUMP]

Working a girls varsity game as U1 in a 3 person crew. We got ready to start the game and the visiting team players outside the jump circle start running counterclockwise in a circle about 6' outside the jump circle. We were startled for a minute waiting for them to set, and the coach started hollering "let's go". We tossed the ball, they won the tap and off we went.
After the game, we questioned whether this was legal or not, but determined it was, as all players were not within 3' of the circle. Has anyone else seen this before, and do you agree that this is legal ??