Looks like it is a required piece of equipment (cleats).. so I guess it is illegally equipped 5 yards penalty

The shoes are allowed to be cleatless.

what about no shoe?

I seem to remember they changed it 3-4 years ago, gotta have a shoe. NFHS Rule 1-5-1 (7) e. It also talks about the kinds of shoes permitted. Interestingly enough, apparently no gymnastics slippers or logging boots are allowed.

Thank God.

I have em stumped now...talked to head high school ref from Southwest NC.  He is calling the state rule rep that is on the rules committee for NFHS.. should have an answer shortly.

They must have a football shoe/cleat as outlined in Section 1...

I seem to remember they changed it 3-4 years ago, gotta have a shoe. NFHS Rule 1-5-1 (7) e. It also talks about the kinds of shoes permitted. Interestingly enough, apparently no gymnastics slippers or logging boots are allowed.

I saw that rule but figured there might be an exception for kickers..

I saw that rule but figured there might be an exception for kickers..

I think that's the part they changed, removing the exception, but I don't have an old rule book handy to check. I remember our local head official getting up and talking about it one year in the league wide pre-season HC's meeting.

Interestingly enough, apparently no gymnastics slippers or logging boots are allowed.

That prohibition came in 1978, although it's possible that prohibitions with similar effect but different wording preceded it.  The requirement to wear shoes came in some time 1961-1977.  It's possible that an exception was made for a while for kickers and then rescinded.