ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH FLEXIBLE REINFORCING PLATE

A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising: a reinforcing plate defining a first flex groove and a second flex groove; wherein the first flex groove extends from a first flex groove first end at a central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a first flex groove second end at a medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein the second flex groove extends from a second flex groove first end at the central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a second flex groove second end at the medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein the second flex groove is disposed farther from a forward edge of the sole structure than the first flex groove; wherein the first flex groove and the second flex groove form a flange portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the flange portion is aligned with a cleat member, corresponds to a ball region of a foot and bends at the bending region so as to move independently from a remaining portion of the reinforcing plate.