Footwear on hard ground

Jess raised this tonight, and Joe asked if I could check the regulations.

I can't find much. There is plenty of stuff on the maximum length of studs, and their shape, and so on, but nothing on the minimum length - or on any requirement to have studs at all.

Equally there is stuff saying that it is assumed that shorter studs will be worn on harder ground, and how to care for them, but again nothing to say that studs MUST be worn.

So I think we can conclude from this that you could potentially play in trainers - especially if, like Jess, you are a back (probably not a good idea for forwards on any sort of ground!). You are hardly going to injure someone - other than maybe yourself if you slip over.

So if anyone thinks that trainers might be more effective by all means try it out in training, or maybe at Aylesbury, and see how you get on. But bring your boots as well - just in case.

[Rachel adds...]

"We played our last league game a few weeks ago (when you were on tour) in trainers and there were no issues. The only thing is to be prepared to slip in trainers but we have been trainign for a few weeks in trainers and played 2 games now in them (the second being our Welwyn friendly last weekend)"