Handball
Passive play and the forewarning signal in handball
How current IHF indoor handball rules prevent possession without a recognisable attempt to attack and how the four-pass count works after the forewarning signal.
Passive play means no recognisable attempt to attack
A team may not keep possession without making a recognisable attempt to attack or shoot. Repeatedly delaying a throw-off, free throw, throw-in or goalkeeper throw is also not allowed. When referees see a tendency toward passive play, they show the forewarning signal.
The warning normally applies to the rest of the attack
The forewarning signal normally remains in force for the rest of that attack. It is cancelled if a shot rebounds directly from the goal or goalkeeper back to the attackers, or if a defender receives a personal punishment for a foul or unsportsmanlike conduct; the attackers then get a new build-up phase.
After the signal, the team has four passes
After the forewarning signal, the attacking team has a maximum of four passes to finish the attack with a shot on goal. National Federations may use a different number for age or performance structures, but the permitted maximum is six passes.
Restarts do not simply reset the count
A free throw or throw-in awarded before the fourth pass does not interrupt the count. After the fourth pass, certain awarded throws or blocked attempts can allow one additional pass to finish the attack. Referees can still call passive play earlier when the attack clearly stops trying to create a shot.