Auckland Defies Cleats Ban

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31224, 23 November 1966, Page 19

Auckland Defies Cleats Ban

'THE Auckland Softball Association has defied the ban on metal cleats imposed by the New Zealand Association this season. A special general meeting, called by seven Auckland clubs, decided that metal cleats would be permitted in Auckland club competitions after December 8. However, rubber sprigs would be used for national tournaments. It was stated at the meeting that from the beginning of last season until December 5, 1965, seven insurance claims were made by players. Only two were for leg injuries. The introduction of rubber cleats produced nine claims—eight for leg injur-

ies—from the beginning of this season until early this month. Umpires have expressed concern for the safety of pitchers who could be severely injured slipping with their rubber cleats on the rubber pitching mats. To remove the mats would ruin the playing surface. The decision to defy the ban has brought Auckland into line with Waikato, which did not adopt the sprigs in spite of a statement made by the president of the New Zealand Association (Mr D. T. Howe) that “there will be absolutely no exception to this ban and no local dispensations will be allowed in any circumstances.”