Players covering an area in game (7)
I believe the answer is:
canasta
'game' is the definition.
(canasta is a kind of game)
'players covering an area' is the wordplay.
'players' becomes 'cast' (group of actors).
'covering' is an insertion indicator.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'cast' placed around 'an' is 'canast'.
'canast'+'a'='CANASTA'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for canasta that I've seen before include "Card game of the rummy family" , "Two-pack card game" , "Card-game, a form of rummy" , "this needs two packs" , "Card game -- as an act (anag)" .)