Metal Cleats - Any problems in baseball?

I am a college softball coach who frequents the softball board here. The NFHS has finally allowed girls to wear metal cleats and the NC high schools have followed suit so now softball players as well as baseball players in NC will be allowed to wear metal next year.

There are a bunch of people worried that some girl is going to get spiked and that girls shouldn't be allowed to wear metal...blah, blah.

I find these arguments to be sexist since I doubt that you here on the baseball board have ever criticized the use of metal cleats for boys on grounds that they were unsafe. I am just wondering if I am way off base on this. Have there been discussions about the safety of metal cleats in baseball or are a lot of people getting worked up because it is girls instead of boys?

Love to hear any comments.

 

IMHO There is no difference in the game(s). Girls have every right to wear metal. Rarely do boys get hurt just as a result of the metal cleats.
Let them have 'em

 

I'm 100% in favor of metal since it gives the best traction w/o a doubt.

But be prepared to hear the complaints. Kids frequently get spiked making a tag. It's a lock that the first time a shortstop comes up bleeding, there will be irate parents climbing the fence.

 

Metal cleats are fine for girls as long as their is no girls trying to be like Ty Cobb. Shaving the cleat down to a point and sliding cleats high when stealing a bag or something.

 

I think it's up to the girls whether they want to wear metal. Expect some blood and stitches on occassions from stepped on fingers and high flying spikes or even some turned ankles from cleats sticking.
But from my limited experience, these girls can handle all that and more!
I was fortunate to be able to see two high school games this year and those girls played the game with intensity!
They were out for blood during the game and as soon as the game was over, they turned back into the ladies
that I knew them to be. I loved watching them play the game and as for the transformation, maybe I misjudged them in the first place. They're TUFF!
Hats off to the ladies!
Good Luck !

 

I agree. They should be able to wear cleats. My question to the coach is; will you need to re-teach how to slide or is this not a problem? I remember when guys graduated to the cleats, some had trouble sliding.

Probably, the one area that needs to be emphasized to the parents is that they may get cleated or stepped on. Don't panic over it. Get over it and move on...your DD did.

I'm tellin' ya, in many ways, girls are tougher than guys.

 

Think

they need to address other more important issuses than this. Yes, there will be more cuts. I think that the players police themselves fairly well. If you slid and the cleats are up, call it simple. Let them play.

 

I think I remember metal cleats were banned in the mid 80s in NC HS baseball for a couple of years and then allowed again a couple of years later. The better traction outweighed potential cuts. The girls should certainly be able to weat them if they choose.