Is there a rule that prevents players from putting there hands into the other lane space during free throw. not touching another and not disconcerting the thrower, just sort of "spreading out" as you often see?

yes, there is a rule. someone else will have to find the citation, I don't know it.

There is no such rule. They may place their hands and arms where ever they wish. If while doing so they make contact, you may have the option of calling a foul. However, I've never seen it called.

Camron is correct.
One of my pet peeves is when officials tell players not to do things that are legal. I frequently hear officials tell players to keep their hands/arms in their own spaces during FTs.
That is flat out wrong.

See Case Book 9.1.9 Situation A (c).

Arms may extend outside the marked lane space. Feet may not.

I say this all the time. Girls usually, but also increasingly guys as well, do the "my arm is over your arm" nonsense. I don't tell them it's illegal by rule. I just tell them to knock it off. And they do.

BayStateRef
 

I agree with Nevada that there appears to be no explicit prohibition in the rules regarding players reaching out (but not touching someone).

But I don't think 9.1.9 Situation A (c) grants permission to reach out. It says "extends arms over the area between the lane spaces", then describes the 'neutral zone' and the 2" wide lines that mark the rest of the spaces. Perhaps this very narrow issue is what's addressed. Ought that which is not explicitly permitted be presumed denied? Perhaps.

Consider the case where B1's arm is extended and dribbler A1 doesn't run into it. Nothing happened. Analogously, if B2 in the low block position extends an arm in front of the player in the next marked lane space, A2, and A2 doesn't contact it . . . nothing happened . . . yet . . . but often there is arm contact, followed by more arm contact, followed by more arm contact. You might say 'lay off', before you do end up with a double personal foul . . .

Me too.

Lots of times, when the arms are extended in front of an opponent, B1 will hold A1 such that B1 will get prime boxing out positioning. That is a foul. I will also tell the players to knock if off if they are playing pitty-pat with their arms prior to the FT. I will also tell them not to hold their opponents or enter the lane early. These warnings (if necessary) will be made as I announce and administer the FT. The whistle will clean it up if necessary.

Me three.

You like me!! You really like me!!!

Yea, okay, everyone else is right. I was thrown off by...

...let's see...

..oh, yeah, by the title of the thread, that's it. There are feet in the title of the thread and it confused me. Right...

Shut up.

54 minutes. Took you long enough. :D

JR & I spent the last hour emailing each other back & forth to decide whether we like you, or if we REALLY like you.

The discussion has moved a bit, now we're just trying to decide if we like you.

btw...shut up