US teenager forced to cut off hair during ‘humiliating’ game ultimatum

An American teenager has been forced to cut off her hair during a softball game in a “humiliating” ultimatum by umpires.

Nicole Pyles (number 6) with her beaded hair that umpires claimed obscured her jersey number when she was playing softball.

An American teenager has been forced to cut off her hair during a softball game in a “humiliating” ultimatum by umpires.

Nicole Pyles, 16, who wears her hair in beads, was playing softball in Durham, just outside the North Carolina capital of Raleigh last month when two umpires stopped play.

The teen was playing for Hillside High school against rival team Jordan High School when her coach was told her hairstyle was covering the number six on the back of her jersey.

The base umpire and the home plate umpire told the teen she would have to take her beads out of her hair or leave the game.

Pyles had worn the same hair style, box braids with clear beads reaching just past her shoulder blades in five previous games.

On this occasion her team “had wrapped the bottom of my hair where the beads were and at the top and stuffed into my sports bra so they couldn’t move.

“So I went out to play and that’s when the ump basically said to my coach either I take the beads out or I can’t play,” she explained.

“‘This is the second inning going on the third, and my beads are now a problem?’

“It was humiliating.”

Pyles aid her team removed some of the beads, but then had to cut her hair to remove the rest so she could stay in the game.

“Why do I have to take away from myself just to play this game where we are actually doing well?,” she said.

Nicole Pyles (number 6) with her beaded hair that umpires claimed obscured her jersey number when she was playing softball.

The teenager said the demand midgame was ‘humiliating;' and that teammates had to cut her hair.

“I’m embarrassed because you pick on me in front of all these people for no reason.”

In January, Durham county passed a non-discrimination policy that covers hairstyles.

However, while bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips are permitted, hair beads are still banned along with bandannas and plastic visors.

Pyles felt her treatment, particularly by the base umpire, was unfair.

“He had seen me play multiple times,” she said.

“If it was a rule that’s that important, why wasn’t it enforced the first time you spoke to me or you saw me come on the field or off the field or any of that?”

Durham Public Schools, which is investigating the incident, offered its support to Pyles, however the North Carolina High School Athletic Association sided with the umpires.

“This is not a new rule, and when the violation was noticed by an umpire, the proper determination of illegal equipment was verified,” NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker said.

“We empathise with the student athlete and her experience.

“It is truly unfortunate, as we believe this situation should never have occurred.

“The NCHSAA expectation is that coaches will know the playing rules and ensure that their players are also aware of them prior to participating in any athletic contest.”

Nicole Pyles (above, centre, with her parents) had worn the African-American hairstyle in previous games.

In a statement, Durham Public Schools said it supporter student athletes’ “right to self-expression in a manner befitting their culture, consistent with safety in training and competition.

“We believe the blanket ban on hair beads is culturally biased and problematic.

“We support our student, Nicole Pyles, and believe this rule should be amended.

“We frown on any rule or policy that promotes cultural insensitivity or does not reflect the ideals and principles of DPS and our employees.”

Nicole Pyles’ father, Julius Pyles, told Raleigh news outlet, The News & Observer, the response was late and the rule was wrong.

“I think it should have happened when the incident took place,” he said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long,” said Mr Pyles, who works with the US Department of Justice.

“I want to see the rule changed, specifically the beads rule.

“(This has) embarrassed me, hurt me, hurt my family, embarrassed my teammates on their senior night in front of their families, their friends.”