Commissioner believes NCHSAA should enforce rules

Davis Whitfield, the commissioner of the N.C. High School Athletic Association, believes the association should continue to enforce its rules without exception.

“To me, our job is to enforce the rules and regulations that we have in place,” Whitfield said. “The board has the authority to do what it feels is best, but personally I believe it is our responsibility to enforce the rules that we have.”

The NCHSAA occasionally hears requests for exceptions. Charlotte Myers Park, for example, requested that its girls’ basketball team to be allowed to play in another tournament after winning the NCHSAA 4A championship.

The request was denied.

The NCHSAA has had requests to allow students be allowed to play despite not meeting eligibility standards. Teams have requested to be allowed to advance to the playoffs despite having to forfeit games for using ineligible players.

“The board sets the rules and we enforce them,” Whitfield said. “I don’t think you want to get into a situation where there are exceptions. Everyone plays by the same rules. I don’t think we should be making exceptions. I don’t think that is what our member schools want.”

But Whitfield said the NCHSAA continually needs to evaluate its rules.

“If we have a bad rule, we need to change for the future,” he said.

This story was originally published April 26, 2015 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Commissioner believes NCHSAA should enforce rules."