BALL BOYS & GIRLS

Ball boys and girls have a long history at Wimbledon. In the 1920s and 30s ball boys were provided by Shaftesbury Homes. From 1946, this service was provided by volunteers from institutions and schools.

History

• In the 1920s & 30s ball boys were provided by Shaftesbury Homes.
• From 1946 they were provided by volunteers from institutions and schools (full list above).
• 1977, ball girls introduced.
• 1980, first mixed teams of ball boys and girls.
• 1985, ball girls on Centre Court for the first time.

Selection

• Participating schools (and Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative) make the initial nominations of the ball boys/girls.
• No particular weight and height is required.

Schools/Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative are asked to send candidates who meet the following requirements:

• Have completed the first eight modules of the online training programme, registered their details online and applied to be considered as a prospective ball boy/girl
• Are generally in Year 9 or 10
• Have no exams during The Championships
• Are able to give priority to training during the training period
• Are physically fit
• Have a good knowledge of the laws of tennis
• Are available to start training at 4:00pm
• Understand that absence for any reason (including illness and injury) lasting two weeks or longer may result in failure to qualify for further training
• Are available for middle Sunday if required
• Are sure that work experience/school trips will not result in missed sessions.

Qualification for Full Training

To qualify for full training students must:

• Pass a written test on the rules and scoring of tennis at Wimbledon
• Attend a court session
• Be able to carry out instructions and drills
• Be able to complete a circuit and then stand still for three minutes
• Show good speed in shuttle runs
• Pass tests of hand/eye co-ordination

And using the instructions outlined on the online training programme

• Roll three flat & straight balls (one after another arriving in released order)
• Long roll three balls into a bin lying on it’s side
• Roll two balls flat & along the line to hit a target
• March, feed, receive and indicate ‘no tennis balls’ as instructed
• Pivot using correct foot movement
• Adopt the correct stance

Training

• Wimbledon training is directed by Anne Rundle, who used to teach in Merton. Anne has been involved in Wimbledon training for over 25 years.
• A final total of approximately 250 are selected from around 700 applicants. About 160 are selected from 540 year 9 & 10 applicants and approximately 90 are chosen from 160 ball boys/girls from the previous years. The ratio of boys/girls is 50:50.
• Training begins in February at the AELTC. Each prospective ball boy or girl will train once a fortnight and also attend four court training sessions at the Covered Courts before Easter.
• After the Easter break all training takes place at Wimbledon (mainly on the Covered Courts) and lasts until mid June, apart from school holidays.
• Weekly training sessions last two hours with up to 60 children per session and there are four sessions per week.
• Training sessions involve general fitness and movement exercises, circuits, ball skills (rolling, feeding, receiving, work on knowledge of the game), scoring (eg knowing from the score at which end should the balls be), and set pieces (marching, start and end of game, tie break, ball change, suspended play etc.)  
• Throughout training each candidate is constantly assessed on the above.
• Wimbledon ballboys and girls are not involved in the Qualifying Competition.

During The Championships

• Four teams of six selected by Anne Rundle are responsible for Centre and No.1 Courts.
• Six teams of six rotate around the other show courts.
• Remainder in teams of six rotate around the rest of the courts.
• Usually arrive at 10:30am and leave as soon as possible after the last court is closed.
• Usual routine is one hour on, one hour off. 

Other facts

• Ball girls were introduced in 1977
• Average age is 15 years. 
• Many ball boys and girls spend two years as a ball boy or girl.