Ball boy

For other uses, see Ball boy (disambiguation).

An association football ball boy, during a Shanghai vs. Shenzhen match.

Ball boys/girls are individuals, usually youths, who retrieve balls for players or officials in sports such as association football, American football, cricket, tennis, baseball and basketball. Though non-essential, their activities help to speed up play by reducing the amount of inactive time.

Tennis

Ball boy (left) and line judge (right) during the Australian Open.

Two ball girls in pose offering balls to the player

Due to the nature of the sport, quick retrieval of loose tennis balls and delivery of the game balls to the servers are necessary for quick play in tennis. In professional tournaments every court will have a trained squad of ball boys/girls with positionings and movements designed for maximum efficiency, whilst also not interfering with active play. As well as dealing with the game balls, ball boys/girls may also provide the players with other assistance, such as the delivery of towels and drinks.

History

Ball boys were first introduced at Wimbledon in 1920. From 1920 until 1930 they were provided by Shaftesbury Homes. Since 1946, ball boys are chosen from schools as volunteers. Initially boys only, ball girls were introduced at Wimbledon in 1977.

Positions

• Nets are located on either side of the net to retrieve balls that are trapped by the net. Their job is to gather dead balls from the court and feed them to the bases after a point. This is usually done by rolling them alongside the court.
• Bases are located just off each corner (at either end of the baseline at either end of the court). Their job is to retrieve balls from the nets and then feed balls to the server.

Feeding

Feeding is how the ball boys and girls give the balls to the players. At different tournaments they use different techniques for feeding. At some tournaments bases have both arms in the air, then feed the balls with one arm; At others, they have one arm in the air which they feed the balls with and the other arm behind their back. When feeding the ball, they must also be aware of a player's preference. Most players accept the standard, which is for the ball boy or girl to gently toss the ball (from the position with their arms extended upwards) such that it bounces one time then to the proper height for the player to catch the ball easily.

Hiring

There are various methods for selecting the ball boys and girls for a tournament. In many tournaments, such as Wimbledon and the Queen's Club Championships, they are picked from or apply through schools, where they are selected by tournaments and they have to go through a number of selections and tests. In some other tournaments, such as the Nottingham Open, Australian Open and the US Open, positions are advertised and there are open try-outs.

Applicants are required to pass a physical ability assessment. In addition to fitness and stamina, the abilities to concentrate and remain alert are essential.

Association football

High-profile association football matches may employ ball boys to facilitate quick play, avoiding long delays when a game ball leaves the pitch and its immediate vicinity. Typically positioned behind the advertising boards, ball boys will generally try and be in possession of a spare ball at all times, such that this can be given to the players prior to the loose ball retrieved. Ball boys are not permitted to enter the field of play.

In Europe, clubs often hold tryouts for team associated ball boys and girls where there can be as many as 1,200 applicants. In North America the standard practice is to employ volunteers from local youth teams as a form of community outreach.

See also

• Batboy - an analogous role in baseball.