When the CNA Windy City USTA Classic tennis tournament came to Chicago’s North Shore last month, organizers sent out a call: Ball kids wanted!
More than 70 kids showed up for training, and a lucky lot of 30 were picked to work the tennis matches.
KidNews tracked down some of these kids and found some who were really having a ball!
During each match, six ball kids surround the court. Four stand in the back court position and two kneel on each end of the net, ready to instantly spring forward to retrieve balls faulted into the net.
“When you’re up at the net, things get pretty intense. You have to get to that ball – and you have to get there fast,” said Sarah T., 15, of Northbrook.
You have to be accurate too. Ryan M., 13, of Evanston learned that the hard way.
“During the semifinals I retrieved a ball at the net, threw it to the other side – and accidentally hit the player! I was glad when that match was over!”
Ball kids on the back court stand motionless, with their hands behind their bodies, holding extra balls.
“The key to being a good ball kid is having the ability to become invisible,” explained David Fitzgerald, ball kid coordinator. “The players shouldn’t even know the ball kids are there.”
When the ball kids become “visible,” that’s when the problems begin.
“Once I was in the back court and the player on my side was trying to serve. I must’ve moved around or something because he got really mad, threw the ball at the fence and started yelling in some foreign language! I don’t know what it was,” Kiera S., 10, of Winnetka said.
Ball kids take yelling in stride.
“At the last training session, our coaches acted really mean,” explained Kate T., 12, of Northbrook. “They screamed at us for every little mistake. They were teaching us to deal with the pressure.”
And there is a lot of pressure.
“Once a judge made a pretty bad call,” Kiera said. “The player got all huffy, and asked me what I thought. I just stared straight ahead. It was really tough to keep my mouth shut!”
Sure, there was lots of pressure in being a ball kid at this tourney – and no paycheck! – but it did have its perks.
Ball kids (most are aspiring tennis players) have the rare opportunity of rubbing elbows with tennis stars.
“We all have baseball hats for the tournament, and after each match, we ask for the players to sign them,” Kate said.
The best part of the deal for Giancarlo P., 12, of Winnetka comes in the form of a hot dog: “The ball kids get free food, which is always cool.”
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The CNA Windy City USTA Classic comes but once a year, but we’ll keep you posted on any ball kid gigs we hear about.
