Ball Boys & Ball Girls
- 250 Ball Boys and Girls are selected from around 700 applicants. Approximately 160 are selected from about 540 year 9 & 10 applicants and around 90 are chosen from about 160 ballboys/girls from previous years. Average age is 15 years. Many BBGs spend two years as a BBG.
History
- In 1920s and ‘30s ball boys provided by Shaftesbury Homes.
- From 1946 provided by volunteers from institutions/schools.
- 1977, ball girls introduced.
- 1980, first mixed teams of ball boys and girls.
- 1985, ball girls on Centre Court for the first time.
Training
- Training begins in February at AELTC. Each prospective ballboy/girl will train once a fortnight and also attend four brief 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 2-2.5 hours with 50-60 children per session with four sessions per week.
During The Championships
- Four teams of six selected by Sarah Goldson to be 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.
- Usual routine is one hour on, one hour off.
