equipment - rule 3.4 & interpretations 3.1

[Séamus]

hey, I've been wondering about this rule & the interpretation with
regard to metal studs on footwear.

Firstly - I'm not 100% sure if there is a rule banning metal studs.
The interpretations document says clearly that they are not allowed,
but the official rule document doesn't specify this. If the
interpretations must be followed - then they effectively are part of
the rules, despite being a different document, right? so one could say
that metal studs are against the rules?

Anyway, what i really wanted to ask...are metal studs more dangerous
than plastic ones? Is there any evidence? If there is none then i'd
ask if the interpretation is really necessary? Obviously i don't
expect the rules group to have undertaken a full academic study on the
subject, but perhaps there is anecdotal evidence of players getting
injured by a metal stud - which has justified the rule?

I'm thinking specifically of the sort of footwear worn in rugby
union...a sport where, as i understand, plastic studs are not allowed.
I've been told it's because they may get damaged and become sharp,
whereas the rounded metal surface of the rugby studs will hold their
shape and not cut anyone - for all i know this is an urban myth...but
having played some underage rugby with some guys who wore soccer
cleats, i'm inclined to agree.

Now obviously rugby is quite different to ultimate in terms of the
contact that's likely with another players foot - all i've seen in
ultimate in this regard was stepping on another players foot and I
don't think metal studs make much of a difference (as compared with
say, the weight of the culprit:-).

I've very little experience of the metal tipped plastic stud which
seems popular in some other sports. I've often seen them in ultimate
anyway.

In any case, I think it is a rule that's largely ignored. Certainly
its not a rule i bother telling beginners about - particularly those
sporty people who have played the sports where metal studs are allowed
(unless they mention that they're planning on buying some new cleats).
But I always am a little concerned that maybe someday, someone will
call one of my teammates up on it - and he just won't be able to play
a game because of lack of legal cleats.

I'd love to hear any thinking behind this rule, or thoughts on
changing it.

cheers,

Seamus

[Jonathan Potts]

The important thing is that people don't wear dangerous equipment. If
someone is convinced that their metal studs are as safe as plastic studs
then they should be allowed to wear them. I think length of stud is
probably more of an issue. Metal studs have been out and then not
explicitly out and then "sort of out" by being placed in interpretations.
The language in the interpretations could probably be better worded, but as
you say, I don't think we have any clear evidence of what is and isn't
relatively safe.

In football & rugby, metal (and plastic) studs are usually tested pre-game
by referees to make sure that they are not sharp, as they can easily be
sharpened by scraping them on concrete. Is this an issue in ultimate? I
hope not.

On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:42:15 -0800 (PST), Séamus <seamus...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> --
Jonathan Potts
pot...@kumquat.net.au
0405 188 599