Ballkid

Ballkids are people (often children) whose job it is in sport to collect, return and provide balls to the players, when they are out of play. "Ballboys" and "ballgirls" are the terms used for the respective genders, while "ballkids" is used collectively. Ballkids are often used in tennis and football (soccer) tournaments.

=Tennis=

Different types of ballkids

Ballkids are either "nets" (sometimes referred to as "centres") or "bases". On each tennis court there are 4 bases and 2 nets. The bases stand at each corner of the court and the nets crouch by the edge of the net, usually each on a different side.

Skills required to be a ballkid

A ballkid must learn many skills to enable them to carry out their job properly.

Rolling

A roll may seem like something simple at first, but the rolls which ballkids should produce must be flat, straight & fast. As they roll they lunge foward, and send a ball down the court. These rolls should be carried out in quick succession.

Feeding

"Feeding" is the term used to describe how the ballkids give tennis balls to the players. Only bases feed balls. At different tournaments ballkids use different techniques for feeding; at some tournaments bases have both arms in the air then feed the balls with one arm and at others they have one arm in the air which they feed the balls with the other behind their back.

Hiring

There are various methods for selecting the ballkids for a tournament. In many tournaments, such as The Championships, Wimbledon and The Artois Championships, ballkids are picked from or apply through tennis 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 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 ability to concentrate and remain alert is essential.