Rowley Leigh

FTMASTERCLASS BALL BOY, BALL GIRL

SarahGoldson (farleft),whotrains andselects250BBGs forWimbledon.Jeremy Taylor(Number158) joinsapracticesession

…with SARAH GOLDSON

Wimbledon’s ‘BBGs’ are strictly drilled in gathering and handling tennis balls. Jeremy Taylor, aka Number 158, is nimble enough around the court but can he stand perfectly still for three minutes? Photographs by Cian Oba-Smith

Competition is fierce at Wimbledon – and not just among the tennis players. I watch in awe as a steely-eyed teenager dispatches three tennis balls rapidly from an outstretched arm above his head with pinpoint accuracy. A moment later they’re rolled back to his feet, collected with a knee bend that would grace the corps de ballet.

The ball boys and girls, otherwise known as BBGs, have been perfecting handling skills like these for the past six months. Any teenage tomfoolery during training simply isn’t tolerated – later this month they could be on Centre Court, tossing balls to Novak Djokovic in front of a global audience of millions.

“Get your arm up straight Number 158!” barks the instructor. “Don’t let that elbow bend – it shouldn’t brush against your hair. Keep your thumb in.” I look around to find the culprit, then remember 158 is the number pinned to my shirt. I’ve already had a roasting for not tucking in my smart new polo shirt.

Turning my head earns me another black mark as BBGs aren’t permitted to watch the course of play. They can follow a rally with their eyes but woe betide anybody who cranes their neck for a better view of Andy Murray’s lethal drop shot.

In charge of this elite band of unnaturally well-behaved teenagers is Sarah Goldson. The PE teacher from Basingstoke has sifted through thousands of applications and is now running training sessions for the 250 BBGs who will perform at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club – home to the Wimbledon championships, which will be played from June 27 to July 10 this year.

The club receives thousands of applications from people aged between 14 and 18, when the process starts in September. That figure is trimmed down to the 400 who are invited to a trial in January. Prospective BBGs are mostly from local schools and arrive with little idea of the strict training programme. “They’re not allowed to talk, even when they’re getting changed,” explains Goldson. “BBGs have to walkeverywhereinsinglefileandtheir coachesare addressed as ‘Sir’or ‘Miss’.”

Mysessionstarts withsomevigorous exercises,before asilent runaroundthe indoor courtcomplex atWimbledon.BBGs areencouraged to belightontheirfeet because aheavy-footedstompmightdisturb aplayer’sserve.Itwouldalsoincreasethe riskofdamagetothe preciousgrass courts.

I’mbreathing heavilyalreadybutthen comesthe toughbit –standingperfectlystill forthreeminutes.Itsoundssimpleenough butfidgety15-year-oldsfindthisisoneof thetougherchallenges,especiallyaftera workout.BBGshave beenknowntocollapse on court,especiallyin hottemperatures.

BBGsrequire agoodknowledgeoftennisbut numericalskills come inhandy too. Remembering whoservesnextandwhatballsshouldbe whereduring atiebreakissurprisinglytricky.

“Shouldersback,chestout158!”I’mintrouble again.But at least none oftheotherBBGsdares to turntheir head to seewhothe bumbling culpritis.

“Icanusuallyspottheoneswho are going to makeit,”saysGoldson. “There’sa determination to succeed.Theyhavetobe focused, withthementalstrength tocope underpressureandthe ability to thinkon theirfeet.Iftheycan’t,they’reout.”

Duringmatches,thereare teamsof sixBBGsandsix tennisballson courtatany onetime.Someofthe selectedteenagers willbecome bases,standing at thebackofthe courttofeedballs to theserver.

Theygatherupstrayballsandthenbounce them to theplayerwhenrequired.Knowing when to throwandhowhardtakespractise.

“You’relookingforeyecontactand,perhaps,a little nod,”saysGoldson.“It’s acrucialpart of aBBG’straining –knowingwhattolookfor.”

Others willbe centres,crouched at eachend ofthenetlikeanOlympicsprinter.Theirjobis to gatherinballsandrollthembackhalf acourt’s length to thebases.Myrollingactionisfinebutit has to beevenfaster to ensureI’m notlaunching ballsbetween aplayer’sfirstandsecondserve.

“There’s alot to remember,” saysGoldson. “Whena BBGwalkson courtforthefirsttime, it’s anerve-wrackingexperience.That’swhy we drillthemhard –sotheyreactautomatically in asituationanddon’t go intoa panic.”

BBGsarefully awarethatfromdayone they areunderintensescrutiny.Thatincludestheir behaviourbothonandoffcourt, howthey walkinsinglefileandtheir generalappearance. Sowhatdotheygetoutofit,apartfromtwo weeksoffschoolandthe chanceto catcha sweaty towelhurled byRogerFederer?

“Wepay travellingexpensesandtheycan keeptheuniform,whichhasjustbeen newly designed by RalphLauren,”saysGoldson. “They alsolearnvaluablelifeskills.I’vehadthank-you emailsfromparentsaftertheirdishevelled childrenbecomeamodeloftidiness.” 6 To applyforBBGtraining visit wimbledon.com inSeptember.The tournamentstartsonJune27