FT Lane Spaces
 

Player A1 attempting FT.
Player B1 and B2 are in the proper place where they are required to be.
Player A2 and A3 are in next spot up from B1 and B2
No player from team B wants the next spot to either A2 or A3.
Can A4 take one of those spots?

First right or refusal here, correct?

A4 cannot take a space along the lane because that would give Team A three players in marked lane spaces and they are limited to a maximum of two.

8-1-4 . . . During a free throw, lane spaces may be occupied as follows:
a. Marked lane spaces may be occupied by a maximum of four defensive and
two offensive players.

8.1.4 SITUATION: A1 is at the free-throw line for the first attempt of a bonus
situation. In (a), two Team B and two Team A players occupy the first and second
marked lane spaces, respectively. B3 occupies one of the third marked lane
spaces. A3 attempts to occupy the vacant third marked lane space; or (b) two
Team B players occupy the first marked lane spaces. The offense chooses not to
occupy any marked lane spaces. Two more Team B players choose to occupy the
second marked lane spaces. RULING: Illegal in (a), A3 is not permitted to occupy
the third marked lane space. Only two offensive players may occupy marked
lane spaces during a free throw. If the improper alignment is not corrected prior
to the thrower having the ball at his/her disposal, a free-throw violation shall be
called on Team A immediately. Legal in (b), four defensive players are permitted
in any of the first three vacant marked lane spaces.

Has this always been this way?

Was this ever anything: First right or refusal ....

The NFHS went to the four and two maximums and reduced the number of lane spaces on each side from four to three in the 2003-04 season.

For many years prior to that there were four spaces along each side of the lane and the teams were entitled to alternating spaces starting with the defending team filling the two spaces nearest the endline. If one team didn't desire to fill a space then the other team could take it, with the exception of those two bottom spaces. So the entire defending team could be in lane spaces, if the shooting team wanted to keep a player back. To my knowledge it was never "first come, first served." A player always had to step aside if the desired space was slated for the other team due to the alternation rule. That is probably what you mean by "first right or refusal." Note that policy is still in force under the present rules. There are just more restrictions which also have to be conformed to as well.

Finally, WAY BACK in the early 50s each team was actually entitled to one of the bottom lane spaces nearest the basket during FTs. The spaces were marked with an "H "for Home and a "V" for Visitor. If you ever see the video of the famous Milan HS State Championship Game upon which the movie Hoosiers was based, you will see this FT alignment.
PS Yes, they had the skinny 6' key back then too!

Who Ya Gonna Call ??? Mythbusters ...
 

On free throws, there is a maximum of two offensive players and four defensive players in the six marked lane spaces. The defense must be in the first marked lane spaces, above the neutral zone marks, on all free throws. The offense must not occupy the first marked lane spaces, above the neutral zone marks. The shooter and all the players in the designated lane spaces must wait until the ball hits rim or backboard before entering the lane. During a free throw, no opponent, including bench personnel, may disconcert the free thrower. For free throws when there are no rebounders in the marked lane spaces, i.e. technical fouls, the nine nonshooters shall remain behind the free throw line extended and behind the three point arc.

You need to invite your buddies out for a drink but then on the first round instead alcohol give each one of them a rule book. ;)

Thank you ...

First right or refusal was meant that the team with the first right to that spot got to keep it or refuse, with the exception of the first space which has to the defense.

It's called "right of first refusal"

One interesting idea that I ran across recently -- if there is a lack of decisiveness, the offense must choose their spots FIRST.

For instance, lets say A1 (shooter's team) wants to be lined up next to B2 but every time he goes to that slot, B2 switches to the other side with B1. You can stop play, ask Team A players where they want to be and then ask team B players to take their chosen spots.

This also applies to choosing spots for a jump ball.

On free throws I would give the defense last choice, but how exactly does this work for jump balls?

There is no way to apply that to a jump ball.

It does pose an interesting situation, but your stated solution is NOT supported by the NFHS rules book.

There is no reason that the referee couldn't decide that the defense must choose first. The only rule which currently exists that could apply to this situation is 2-3 and that leaves it completely up to the referee of the game.

I'm not passing judgment on your thought. I just don't want anyone thinking that there is a ruling which says to do it that way.

For a jump ball there are already rules in place to handle it. Once the referee is ready to toss the ball he should sound the whistle and thereafter any player who moves illegally should be penalized. The restrictions are very clear on who can move and how, and who can't. Just apply the rules.

What would be the penalty for someone moving after whistle on a jump ball? The basketball at division line and AP arrow to the other team?