THE DAILY GRIND OF A BALL KID @ THE BNP PARIBAS OPEN

Written by: Staff on 17th March 2015

THE DAILY GRIND OF A BALL KID @ THE BNP PARIBAS OPEN |

Southern Belle had the rare opportunity to sit next to the ball kids and their supervisor on Court 3 and to get an inside look at the work that goes into fetching balls and sweaty towels for the players. If you think these kids aren’t working hard, think again! They are under constant scrutiny not only by the players but also by the chair umpire, the linespeople, and the fans. One mistake on their part can cause a player to go ballistic while one tricky ball retrieval can send the fans into an uproarious cheer.

According to one supervisor, keeping the ball kids hydrated, especially in the searing desert temperatures, is the biggest challenge. During training, the kids are encouraged to speak up if they feel as if they’re getting over-heated so they can be replaced on the court right away. But, sometimes, they don’t realize what’s going on until it’s too late as happened with one young ball kid last year who suddenly swayed then fainted right in the middle of a match! Thankfully, the supervisor and chair umpire were on their game and got the child treated immediately, and all was well.

The ball kids are also trained in the intricacies of ball retrieval. You think it’s easy? Think again! The players can get impatient very quickly if the balls are not in the proper place when they’re ready to serve, so these kids have to be on their toes at all times. They have to figure out quickly each player’s individual quirks and rituals so that they don’t interfere with the pace of play. Such and such player only takes the ball from the left side of the court while so and so player wants the towel and the balls to come from the same ball kid. It’s a lot to think about, especially when the temps are climbing toward 100 degrees!

Like the players themselves, the ball kids come in all shapes and sizes and personalities. One pre-teen girl was so animated on the court that she totally captured the attention (in a good way!) of viewers around the stadium. Another young boy was just too cute, jumping to catch the balls as they came his way.

Lest you think it’s all fun and games out there, these kids are in a prime position to get nailed by 120+ mph serves and blasted passing shots. They can’t let their guard down for even one second for fear of getting hit. It takes real concentration to send the balls to the proper end of the court and stay out of the path of the ball, which is probably why the kids are cycled in and out every few games. During their break, they are encouraged to cool off, hydrate, and rest up for their next shift.

Next time you watch a match, try to pay a little closer attention to the young men and women on the court doing the players’ bidding. You’ll have a whole new appreciation for what it means to be a Ball Kid.

Topics: Ball kids, BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

March 17, 2015 at 10:39 am

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TopspinMonkeys says:

March 17, 2015 at 2:54 pm

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