point fighting

In watching some tournament point fighting on youtube, it appears that some folks are competing in the traditional gi for katas, and then changing into a sparring style uniform for the kumite, is this the case? I would think that the sparring uniform would provide a less restrictive movement...

I recently had a student sign up, who in fact has had surgery on their legs and is using Martial Arts to aid in the rehab of his joints. I need recommendations for sparring shoes that will have arch supports in them or can be modified with arch supports so aid in his point sparring competition...