Settle the argument
Can a receiver go out of bounds and come back in flag football?
No. Not if they stepped out on their own.
An offensive player who goes out of bounds on their own during a down can’t touch a pass in flight, even after coming straight back onto the field.
The exception is a receiver forced out by a defender’s foul who comes straight back. They stay eligible to catch the ball.
The rule
IFAF Flag Football Rules 2023, R 7-2-5-b
The call
S19 False start, illegal procedureRoll the forearms in front of the chest.
Illegal touching: loss of down at the line of scrimmage (signal S19).
Other rulebooks
NFL FLAG and local leagues can differ. Check the rulebook your league plays.
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