Under IFAF rules a runner can’t dive. Diving means leaning the upper body forward to avoid a flag pull or to make the flags harder to reach, with or without a jump, a dip or a spin.
It’s treated as a form of flag guarding and is illegal. Dipping (bending the knees to get low while still running) is legal.
The rule
IFAF Flag Football Rules 2023, R 2-12-6, R 9-2-2-b
The call
Diving: 5 yards from the spot of the foul, plus loss of down (signal S51).
S51 Jumping, divingArms down, hop up off the ground.
Other rulebooks
NFL FLAG and local leagues can differ. Check the rulebook your league plays.
