The basic purpose of cleats always is the same: An athlete wears them to get better traction on the field, which will lead to quicker movement. The material those cleats are made of, however, plays a large role in how much success you can achieve. Your age, sport, level of competition and sanctioning body will determine whether you can or should wear metal or rubber cleats.
Baseball
Professional and collegiate baseball players wear metal spikes, while most youth leagues ban metal cleats in favor of molded plastic. According to the North Andover Booster Club Little League, metal spikes are legal in leagues that use 90-foot base paths, the standard distance for ages 13 and older. Children who play in leagues that use 60-foot base paths cannot wear metal.
Track and Field
Although competitors can use plastic or metals spikes in track and field, the general consensus is that metal spikes are the best. USA Track and Field rules do not dictate what spikes can be made of, only that there can be a maximum of 11 on each shoe. Metal spikes work best because they can puncture the synthetic track surface deeper and quicker than spikes made of plastic, which means more drive with each step and therefore better running time. Rubber spikes can slip on synthetic surfaces.
Soccer
Plastic cleats are required in soccer and can either be molded onto the sole or interchangeable, screw-on cleat spikes. Metal spikes are not allowed primarily because of the amount of kicking contact in the game. Metal spikes can puncture skin and cause major injuries, whereas plastic is much less likely to do so. Plastic cleats also work on natural and synthetic grass surfaces alike thanks to the broader tips. Metal spikes pierce too deeply, so do not have enough resistance to push off of.
Golf
Golfers are allowed to wear metal or plastic spikes, but according to a" USA Today" article, some golfers want metal spikes to be banned. The argument that metal spikes damage the soft greens compelled some golfers to circulate a petition during the 2005 Buick Open asking for a ban. The article cited a three-year trend in which all four major professional golf organizations saw a decline in metal spike use by players. The softness of the grass in golf allows any type of spike to dig in and set.
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