The Duchess of Cambridge meets ball boys and girls on day one of Wimbledon (Gareth Fuller/PA) Out of 700 applicants from 27 nearby schools in Sutton and Merton in south and south-west London, 250 . However, how much you get paid is dependent on several factors. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. Skip to main nav. The summer heat can get rather sweltering at times, especially on the courts of major tournaments. The players are not all the same. One of the rules to be part of the team is that you have to . Link copied. Being a ball boy or girl requires you to be on your feet for hours each day, so testers want to see how long they can stand on their feet. A Wimbledon ball boy makes an incredible catch at Wimbledon 2013. [The Basics] What Do Tennis Court Lines Mean? In 2015, the amount was just under 200. You need to pass it with good grades to have a good chance of being selected. The training process for a BBG is reputedly rigorous and tough. In an interview with the Standard, he described the "very intense" selection process and how anyone who "lags behind" during training is often cut from the team. 2 = five. The tradition at Wimbledon started in the 1920s, when young boys would be recruited to assist matches from . While they do not get compensated monetarily, there is always an opportunity for these young men or women who are part of such high-profile events as Rafa Nadals camera smile-time! For instance, if a player needs another drink, they will call for a ball boy. La Liga. Aside from that, most tournaments will compensate ball boys with gifts or cash. You can also watch tennis games on television or online so that you know what professional players do during a match. You need to pass it with good grades to have a good chance of being selected. 08/07/2015 05:29. They are known as BBGs for short and are often picked from schools close to where the tournament is held. "Feeding is when you give the ball to the player, rolling is when you pass the ball between ball pits," he explained. If you're interested in a particular tournament, ask those who run it what their requirements are. Wimbledon ball boy has revealed the "gruelling" training and "intense" selection process they have to go through to prove they have what it takes to work at the tournament. Around 700 teenagers, aged between 14 and 18, send in their applications every year. Who can be a ball boy or ball girl? I don't think they should be expected to pass towels to players after each point and when the player wipes the sweat off his face and walks around the court, have to face the player and walk backwards, waiting to be thrown the sweat soaked towel . All Rights Reserved 2022 My Tennis Outfitter. "I did Roddick once. Do You Need Them? You will never forget it. Competitions get hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for ball person positions. He lost in five sets in the fourth round to Giles Muller, Johanna Konta helps Chelsea Pensioner John Griffiths take a selfie at Wimbledon in 2017, The Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex in the Royal Box at Wimbledon in 2018, A tennis fan holds a banner next to Roger Federer asking for his headband in 2018, Caroline Wozniacki shakes her head to avoid the flying insects in 2018, Germany's Angelique Kerber defeats USA's Serena Williams in the Women's singles final 2018, Novak Djokovic with the trophy after winning the Gentlemen's singles final in 2018, John Bercow on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Championships 2019, Cori Gauff celebrates victory after her Ladies' Singles first round match against Venus Williams in 2019, Emma Raducanu waves to the fans as she leaves the court after winning against Romania's Sorana Cirstea during their women's singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. There are almost 250 BBGs available all the time for Wimbledon championships. If you are in the right age category, around 30% of applicants are successful. You must comprehend their actions and adjust your conduct accordingly. The majority of the ball guys are ardent tennis fans, and they will almost always meet their famous admirers up close. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A Few Things To Know. Once they throw the spare ball to the player, it is also their tasked to retrieve the ball. Who gets paid to meet their favorite top player athlete? Ball boys and girls (BBGs) are not paid at Wimbledon, but they do receive a small stipend. Balls are flying at players left, right and centre. You are not permitted to fidget or fiddle with your hair in any way. [Interesting] What Is A Normal Weight For A Tennis Player? Ball boys and girls need to keep tennis balls in play. 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Along with this it is seen as a privilege, and seen as a valuable addition to a school leaver's curriculum vitae, showing discipline. She also won the Australian, French and US Open in the same year as well as the Olympics. However, because this manual labour interferes with play at times, I think it will stick around for the following years, as it seems to be. Ball boys and girls at the All England Club are paid about 100 per week, but they dont receive any compensation for their work other than a free meal or two. They need to follow each tournaments dress code (which is often supplied by the organizer). They never speak directly to players, and they must stay out of the players sightlines at all times during a match. The ball boys at the net are positioned so that they each have a side. Every year, 400 to 500 individuals try out to become one of 250 ball boys or girls for the U.S. Open. Here are some ways you can be ready. The kids also . Great Britain's Jodie Burrage (right) helps a ball boy after they fainted during day one of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. You need to be at least 16 years old to apply to become a line umpire. Brahim Diaz. One at the left of the net, and one at the right. By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/Be-a-Tennis-Ball-Boy-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Be-a-Tennis-Ball-Boy-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/Be-a-Tennis-Ball-Boy-Step-1.jpg\/aid690083-v4-728px-Be-a-Tennis-Ball-Boy-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"