Clarification on Allowable Cleat
Patterns
It has
recently become apparent there is some
confusion in the US on the application
of Law 4.4 (i):
A player
must not wear a single stud at the toe
of the boot.
I have heard reports of referees
requiring that players cut a toe stud
off molded rubber soles. This is not a
requirement in Law. In fact, I have
seen the results of this and they can be
actually dangerous after a sloppy trim
job, with sharp edges created when
cutting off the stud.
The prohibition on single studs is meant
for boots with replaceable studs.
Soccer style cleats with molded bottoms
are covered in Law 4.3 (b), as
are many boots intended for other sports
such as football:
Molded rubber multi-studded soles are
acceptable provide they have no sharp
edges or ridges.
In a similar vein, the boot style known
as “blades” were accepted provisionally
in 2001. That has not changed.
That said, the referee on the day always
has the right and the obligation to
decide that a particular shoe is
unacceptable. Many shoes that are just
fine when new can, after use and wear,
become dangerous. That is why there is
an equipment inspection before every
game.
Peter
Watson
Chair,
USARFU Laws Committee |
