Settle the argument

Can you jump or hurdle in flag football?

No. Not to get away from a flag pull.

A runner can’t jump or hurdle to keep the flags away from a defender. Jumping raises the flags, so IFAF treats it as a form of flag guarding, and it’s illegal. That includes hurdling a defender who has fallen: the runner has to go around them.

This is about the ball carrier avoiding a pull. Receivers and defenders can still jump to catch or knock down a pass.

The rule

IFAF Flag Football Rules 2023, R 2-12-3, R 9-2-2-b

The call

Jumping: 5 yards from the spot of the foul, plus loss of down (signal S51).

Referee signal S51: Jumping, diving
S51 Jumping, divingArms down, hop up off the ground.
Other rulebooks

NFL FLAG and local leagues can differ. Check the rulebook your league plays.

Watch this play in the free flag football rules quiz.

The runner hurdles a defender who slipped. Jumping: a foul.

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Can you jump or hurdle in flag football? No. Not to get away from a flag pull.

Think you know the rules?

Watch animated plays and make the call in the free rules quiz. Refs: print every penalty on a pocket card.