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A ball girl at the 2014 French Open in tennis
The skaters in yellow vests in the foreground are ball boys at this bandy game.

Ball boys and ball girls,[1] also known as ball kids,[2] are individuals, usually human youths, but sometimes dogs,[3] who retrieve and supply balls for players or officials in sports such as association football, American football, bandy, cricket, tennis, baseball and basketball. Though non-essential, their activities help to speed up play by reducing the amount of inactive time.

Tennis

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Ball boy (left) and line judge (right) during the 2005 Australian Open
Two ball girls in pose offering balls to the player

Due to the nature of the sport, quick retrieval of loose balls and delivery of the game balls to the servers are necessary for quick play in tennis. In professional tournaments, every court will have a trained squad of ball boys/girls with positionings and movements designed for maximum efficiency, while also not interfering with active play. As well as dealing with the game balls, ball boys/girls may also provide the players with other assistance, such as the delivery of towels and drinks.[4]

Positions

[edit]
  • Nets are located on either side of the net to retrieve balls that are trapped by the net. Their job is to gather dead balls from the court and feed them to the bases after a point. This is usually done by rolling them alongside the court.
  • Bases are located just off each corner (at either end of the baseline at either end of the court). Their job is to retrieve balls from the nets and then feed balls to the server.

Feeding

[edit]

Feeding is how the ball boys and girls give the balls to the players. At different tournaments, they use different techniques for feeding. At some tournaments, bases have both arms in the air, feeding the balls with one arm; at others, they have one arm in the air which they feed the balls and the other arm behind their back. When feeding the ball, they must also be aware of a player's preference. Most players accept the standard, which is for the ball boy or girl to gently toss the ball (from the position with their arms extended upwards) such that it bounces one time then to the proper height for the player to catch the ball easily.

Hiring

[edit]

There are various methods for selecting the ball boys and girls for a tournament. In many tournaments, such as Wimbledon and the Queen's Club Championships, they are picked from or apply through schools, where they are selected by tournaments, and they have to go through a number of selections and tests.[4] In some other tournaments, such as the Nottingham Open, Australian Open and the US Open,[5] 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 abilities to concentrate and remain alert are essential.

Association football

[edit]
A ball boy at a football match in China in 2007

In 2006, the IFAB Laws of the Game of association football were changed to allow multiple balls to be used under the direction of a referee. Higher level organised matches now commonly use 6+ balls with ball boys scattered around the pitch to quicken the pace of play. Typically positioned behind advertising boards surrounding the pitch, ball boys will try to be in possession of a spare ball at all times, so that this can be given to the players prior to the loose ball being retrieved.

Methods for selecting ball boys vary between grounds.[6] On occasion, away teams have complained about perceived favour of ball boys towards home sides.[6]

Association football ball boys hit the headlines in England in a 2013 EFL Cup match when Eden Hazard, a member of the away team, which was trailing at the time, appeared to kick at an apparently time-wasting ball boy Charlie Morgan who was lying on top of the ball.[7] Hazard was subsequently sent off for violent conduct and suspended for three games.[8] It was later revealed that the ball boy had tweeted the day before that he had intended to waste time.[9]

Baseball

[edit]
A ball girl retrieving a foul ball at a Baltimore Orioles game

Ball kids are stationed in out-of-play areas near the first and third base foul lines to retrieve out-of-play baseballs. They should not be confused with bat boys and bat girls, who remain in or near a team's dugout and the home plate area, primarily to tend to a team's baseball bats.

As ball kids are stationed on the field, albeit in foul territory, they can occasionally interfere with play; such events are governed by Rule 6.01(d), the main point of which is that if the interference is unintentional, any live ball remains alive and in play.[10] For this reason, most teams will use experienced individuals who understand the rules, to minimize mistaken interference. One of the more infamous examples was the use of a Hooters girl as a promotion. The woman unfortunately snagged a ball that was fair and live in a Tampa Bay Rays game, throwing it to the fans. The batter was awarded a double on the interference.[11]

Since 1992, the San Francisco Giants have employed older men as "balldudes", instead of the traditional youths. In 1993, Corinne Mullane became the first "balldudette", and she and her daughter Molly, who began working as a balldudette in the 2000s, have since been included in the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the first mother-daughter ball-retrieving duo in baseball.[12][13][14]

Cricket

[edit]

Ball boys are stationed around the field just outside the boundary to retrieve any balls struck into the spectator stands or to the boundary rope. In India, disabled people are not allowed to be ball-boys anymore after a controversy occurred in 2017, after criticism of the Board of Control for Cricket in India surrounding the appearance of a polio-afflicted fan who had been serving as a ball-boy for a few years.[15]

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ball boy

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
A ball boy is a young male attendant who retrieves balls that go out of play and supplies players with fresh balls during matches in sports such as , , and . In , the role is particularly prominent, where ball boys position themselves around the to swiftly collect errant balls, roll or bounce them to players for inspection before points, and ensure seamless continuity of play without disrupting the match's rhythm. Their duties extend to maintaining cleanliness and adhering to precise protocols, such as standing motionless during rallies to avoid distractions. Aspiring ball boys for major tournaments undergo intensive selection processes, including skills tests for ball handling, endurance drills, and knowledge of match-specific routines like score-dependent positioning. Participants are generally aged 12 to 16 and must exhibit coordination, attentiveness, and the ability to perform under pressure, often drawn from local academies or schools. While the position offers proximity to elite athletes, it demands physical fitness and mental discipline, contributing invisibly yet essential to the sport's efficiency.

Overview and History

Definition and General Role

A ball boy, also known as a ball girl or ball person, is an assistant, typically a young individual, tasked with retrieving balls that go out of play during sporting events and supplying players with additional balls to maintain game flow. This role is common in racket sports like , where ball boys position themselves around the to quickly collect errant shots and deliver fresh balls to servers, thereby minimizing interruptions. The general responsibilities extend beyond mere retrieval; ball boys ensure balls are in optimal condition by warming them if necessary and communicating availability to umpires or net personnel after each point. In team sports such as baseball, ball boys stationed along foul lines field deflected balls to prevent delays, distinct from bat boys who handle equipment in dugouts. Similarly, in cricket and association football, they fetch boundary balls or out-of-play kicks, aiding in rapid restarts. While traditionally performed by boys, the position now often includes girls and emphasizes , focus, and unobtrusiveness to avoid interfering with play. Ball boys contribute to the professionalism of events by upholding pace and order, though they must adhere to strict protocols, such as standing at attention during rallies and avoiding direct interaction with players except when handing balls.

Historical Origins and Evolution

The role of the ball boy emerged in during the early to expedite gameplay by retrieving out-of-bounds balls and supplying fresh ones to players, reducing downtime on court. The pioneered their formal use in the 1920s, marking the first major tournament to employ them systematically. Initially, boys were sourced from charitable organizations, including Homes in the 1920s and 1930s, reflecting a tradition of involving underprivileged youth in the event. Post-World War II, the practice evolved with recruitment shifting to volunteers from schools and institutions; from 1946 to 1966, Wimbledon exclusively drew ball boys from Dr. children's homes, emphasizing discipline and service. The U.S. Open followed suit by introducing paid ball boys in 1968, initially at $2.20 per hour, to handle the tournament's growing scale. The French Open formalized its ball boy and girl program in 1974 under Ridha Bensalha, establishing structured selection for major events. Gender integration marked a key evolutionary shift: Wimbledon introduced ball girls in 1977 amid broader equality pushes, transitioning to mixed teams by 1980 for balanced representation across court positions. Over decades, roles professionalized with rigorous in , neutrality, and , extending beyond to sports like —where bat boys retrieving foul balls trace to the —and , where boundary assistants appeared in early 20th-century matches to manage ball retrieval amid larger crowds. This adaptation prioritized efficiency and spectator experience as sports scaled commercially.

Selection and Training

Criteria and Processes

Selection of ball boys and ball girls for major tournaments typically begins with nominations from local schools or direct applications, followed by multi-stage tryouts evaluating candidates' suitability. For Wimbledon, participating schools initially nominate candidates without specific height or weight requirements, after which shortlisted individuals undergo trials assessing fitness, knowledge, practical skills, and on-court performance. Similarly, the US Open selects applicants for tryouts based on prior experience as a ball person, demonstrated knowledge, and a personal statement outlining motivation and availability. Key criteria emphasize and coordination, as the role demands sustained during extended . Candidates must exhibit strong hand-eye coordination, stamina for sprinting across courts, and the ability to perform precise ball-handling tasks such as rolling, catching, and tossing under pressure; improper techniques, like bending the wrist during tosses, lead to elimination. Mental attributes including concentration, , and quick are also evaluated, often through drills simulating match conditions. Age restrictions apply to ensure maturity and safety, with Wimbledon targeting 14- to 17-year-olds averaging 15 years, while the Open requires participants to be at least 14 by July 1 of the tournament year, with those under 18 needing valid working papers. Selected individuals then enter intensive training phases, which include learning scoring protocols—such as positioning balls based on game scores—and rehearsing set routines like player service positions, often spanning weeks with senior instructors monitoring performance for ongoing refinement. This process ensures minimal disruptions during professional play, with teams rotated hourly to maintain alertness.

Age, Gender, and Compensation

In professional , the typical age range for ball boys and ball girls is 12 to 18 years, with specific minimums set by tournaments to ensure physical capability and maturity; for example, Wimbledon selects participants averaging 15 years old, while the US Open requires applicants to be at least 14 by July 1 of the event year. Some ATP events extend the upper limit to adults, such as Indian Wells and BNP Paribas Open, which accept individuals up to 35 years old to accommodate experienced volunteers. In other sports, similar adolescent thresholds apply, with bat boys required to be at least 14 and often teenagers in good physical condition. Both males and females fill these positions, traditionally termed ball boys for males and ball girls for females, a distinction retained by tournaments like Wimbledon despite external advocacy for gender-neutral phrasing such as "ball kids"; Wimbledon enforces an approximate 50% gender balance among its roughly 250 selected participants. This mixed-gender practice extends to ATP and WTA events, where both serve equally in retrieving balls and court maintenance. Compensation varies by tournament and sport but remains generally low, often functioning as a or hourly wage supplemented by non-monetary benefits like meals, apparel, and event access rather than ; at Wimbledon, participants earn about £200 for the two-week duration, equivalent to roughly £14 daily. In contrast, US Open ball crew receive $17 per hour for 90-minute shifts, potentially totaling several hundred dollars over the event depending on assignments. Smaller or non-Grand Slam tennis tournaments may pay $8–$10 hourly near minimum wage, while many international events, including the Olympics and , offer no direct pay, relying on volunteers motivated by experience and perks. In baseball, MLB bat boys and ball girls earn salaries typically under $3,000 monthly, varying by team, whereas roles in football or are frequently unpaid youth volunteer positions.

Roles in Individual Sports

Tennis

In tennis, ball boys and ball girls—collectively known as ball kids—facilitate the continuous flow of play by retrieving balls that go , supplying fresh balls to servers from designated baskets, and clearing the of , towels, and water bottles between points. Their primary objective is to minimize interruptions, allowing matches to proceed efficiently without players needing to fetch equipment themselves. Typically, six ball kids are assigned per in ATP and WTA tournaments, including Grand Slams: two positioned behind each baseline to collect balls, two on the sidelines for lateral retrieval, and two near the net for quick access during rallies. These positions rotate hourly to manage fatigue during extended matches, which can last several hours under varying weather conditions. The tradition of employing ball kids in dates to the at Wimbledon, where initial recruits came from charitable institutions like Homes to assist in ball retrieval and court maintenance. By the mid-20th century, the role expanded to include volunteers from local schools, with formalized training emphasizing precise movements, such as bouncing balls to players without disrupting focus and accurately tracking game scores for ball placement. In modern Grand Slams, gender balance is maintained, with approximately 50% boys and 50% girls selected as of 2024, reflecting inclusivity while prioritizing agility and neutrality. For instance, the established its ball kid system in 1974, deploying around 280 kids across courts for the event. Selection for major tournaments involves competitive processes: Wimbledon draws from about 1,000 applicants aged 14-16, selecting roughly 250 after fitness tests, interviews, and biweekly training sessions focused on court protocols and endurance. Similarly, the US Open requires participants to be at least 14 years old by , with tryouts assessing speed, coordination, and composure under pressure. Training regimens simulate match conditions, teaching kids to anticipate ball trajectories and respond silently to maintain the sport's decorum. Ball kids must remain unobtrusive, facing players during service to signal readiness, a practice rooted in ensuring psychological neutrality during critical points.

Association Football

In , ball boys (or ball persons, including girls) are stationed around the perimeter of the pitch during matches to retrieve balls that exit the field of play and to provide replacement balls to players or officials with minimal delay, thereby facilitating continuous gameplay and reducing stoppages. This role supports the Laws of the Game as maintained by the (IFAB), which emphasize fairness and efficiency without prescribing specific ball retrieval procedures, leaving implementation to competition organizers. Major leagues and tournaments employ a multi-ball system, typically involving eight to ten balls positioned at intervals along the touchlines and behind the goals, held by ball boys until needed. When a ball goes out of play, a ball boy throws or rolls a fresh one onto the pitch for immediate use, while the out-of-play ball is recovered separately. This practice, standard in matches since the mid-20th century, accelerates restarts for throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks. In , ball kids follow event-specific guidelines ensuring neutral positioning and quick response times, often as part of protocols for youth participants. The role originated in in the early 1900s, with formalized use linked to Chelsea Football Club's 1905 signing of 'Fatty' Foulkes, whose large frame necessitated efficient ball recovery to maintain match pace. Today, ball boys are usually volunteer youths aged 12 to 16, selected by host clubs or federations with no universal age minimum enforced by governing bodies like or ; compensation, if any, is minimal or honorary, such as match tickets or club merchandise. To curb potential tactical manipulation of game tempo, the English updated its multi-ball protocol in 2022 by placing balls on elevated cones or tees around the pitch, instructing ball boys from March 2024 onward not to hand them directly to players—instead, players must retrieve balls themselves to ensure impartiality. Similar neutral systems are trialed in other leagues to prioritize fair play over direct assistance.

Baseball

In (MLB), ball boys and ball girls, often referred to as bat boys or bat girls, primarily operate from the dugouts and assist with equipment management and game facilitation. Their core duties include retrieving bats discarded by batters after hits or strikes, replacing broken bats, collecting helmets, elbow guards, and shin guards, and supplying fresh baseballs to the as needed during . These individuals also handle pre-game setup, such as stocking dugouts and with towels, water, seeds, gum, and other player essentials. During batting practice and warm-ups, ball personnel collect scattered baseballs from the field and stands. In-game, select teams position ball boys in foul territory—such as along the first- or third-base lines or in seating areas—to field hit into the crowd, preventing fan injuries and expediting play resumption; for instance, the employ ball boys for this purpose, who also warm up ceremonial first-pitch guests and distribute retrieved to spectators. Official MLB rules authorize ball boys on the playing field but treat unintentional interference (e.g., a striking a stationary ball boy) as non-disruptive, with the ball remaining live unless intent is evident. The tradition of bat boys dates to the 1880s, coinciding with early mascots, and has persisted for over 125 years as a blend of utility and fan engagement. Notable historical figures include Eddie Bennett, a mascot-batboy active in the early who traveled with multiple teams. Some programs, like the San Francisco Giants' Balldude/Balldudette initiative started over 20 years ago, recruit senior citizens to serve in these roles, emphasizing community involvement over youth exclusivity. Positions are typically filled by volunteers, unpaid interns, or low-wage staff, with all 30 MLB teams employing dugout-based personnel regardless of age or gender.

Cricket

In cricket, ball boys—also referred to as boundary assistants or retrievers—are positioned at regular intervals around the boundary rope during professional matches, particularly in limited-overs formats like One Day Internationals (ODIs) and (T20) games. Their primary function is to swiftly collect the ball after it crosses the boundary or enters the areas, returning it to the nearest fielder to minimize downtime and support compliance with over-rate requirements enforced by bodies such as the (ICC). This role became standardized in from the late onward, evolving alongside efforts to accelerate play in response to growing commercial demands, though specific origins trace back to retrieval practices in earlier professional fixtures where fielders or ground staff handled such duties. These assistants are typically young participants, often aged 12 to 16, selected informally from local academies, clubs, or youth programs affiliated with host boards like the (ECB) or Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Selection prioritizes agility, familiarity with the game, and availability rather than formal trials, with groups of 8 to 12 positioned per match to cover the oval-shaped field effectively. They receive brief on-ground instructions emphasizing discretion—entering the playing area only after the signals the is dead—to avoid interfering with live play, as per standard match protocols derived from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws, which do not explicitly govern non-playing personnel but imply non-disruption under fair play tenets (Law 42). Training is minimal and practical, focusing on quick retrieval techniques and safety awareness, such as retreating from potential high-velocity shots. Incidents of over-enthusiasm have occasionally disrupted proceedings, highlighting the delicate balance required. For instance, during the third ODI between and on December 22, 2014, at in , a ball boy prematurely collected a ball heading for a boundary, nullifying what would have been a four for and , sparking debate on fielder rights under Law 19 (Boundaries) but ultimately ruled as non-reviewable interference since the ball remained live. Safety measures have also been implemented in high-stakes venues; at during the () in April 2025, ball boys donned helmets to mitigate risks from powerful hits, reflecting empirical adjustments to injury data from boundary proximity. Compensation varies by jurisdiction but is generally modest—often stipends or allowances from organizing committees—positioning the role as an entry-level opportunity for aspiring cricketers rather than a paid .

Roles in Team Sports

American Football

In American football, ball boys—also referred to as ball persons—assist game officials and teams by managing footballs to ensure smooth play progression, particularly in the (NFL) and college divisions. Their core responsibilities encompass retrieving out-of-bounds or kicked balls, handing conditioned footballs to referees for spot placement after changes in possession, and recovering kicking tees following extra-point or field-goal attempts. This role contrasts with more retrieval-focused duties in sports like , emphasizing instead the rapid provision of compliant balls to minimize delays in a high-pace, stop-start format governed by strict timing rules. NFL ball boys operate in specialized capacities, with those handling kicking plays wearing vests marked "K" to manage "K-balls"—footballs pre-scuffed and conditioned per league specifications for optimal grip and flight during punts, field goals, and extra points, a practice formalized in to standardize preparation amid concerns over team tampering. Standard play balls, used for general downs, are overseen by ball boys in "X"-marked vests, who stand alert along the sidelines to toss fresh, dry footballs to officials immediately upon signals like scores or turnovers, preventing moisture or wear from disrupting play. Teams maintain dozens of game-approved balls per match, with ball boys ensuring quick swaps to sustain the 40-second play clock. Typically aged 14 to 18, ball boys are often recruited from local high schools, youth programs, or as relatives of players and staff, serving during training camps and regular-season games for durations of weeks to months. Compensation varies but is generally modest, ranging from volunteer status in college settings to hourly wages near minimum levels in the , around $10–15 per hour as of recent reports, without benefits. Prominent alumni who began as ball boys include Larry Fitzgerald, who handled duties for the Minnesota Vikings as a teen in the early 2000s, and Joey Porter Jr., who supported the during middle and high school years. These positions demand attentiveness to avoid interfering with live action, as errant involvement can draw penalties for delay of game.

Basketball

In professional basketball leagues such as the (NBA), ball boys—also termed team attendants or tactical team members—fulfill essential support functions to maintain efficiency and court safety. Their duties include rebounding shots during player warm-ups, distributing towels, and mopping sweat or spills on the court during timeouts and stoppages to prevent slips. Teams like the deploy six tactical members on the court per game for these tasks, using around 500 towels per contest. Pre-game preparations involve setting up bench areas, , and assisting with drills, while in-game roles extend to retrieving out-of-bounds balls, aiding referees in maintaining flow, and promptly addressing player requests for water or towels. Post-game responsibilities encompass court cleanup, storage, and laundry processing, alongside ancillary errands such as transporting items or handling debris like beverage cups. Practices vary by team; for instance, the have assigned younger attendants to rebound during active play segments, in addition to washing towels and running errands for staff. Overall, these roles prioritize and speed to avoid interfering with officials or players. Selection often targets local candidates through networking at games or structured evaluations, such as the Thunder's annual combine assessing hustle, rebounding, and spill response skills. Participants are typically adults aged 18 to 25, though earlier eras included minors; compensation averages $12 to $15 per hour, with potential tips from players adding variability. emphasizes safety protocols, rapid execution, and pathways to advanced equipment or operations positions within franchises.

Controversies and Incidents

Player-Ball Boy Interactions

In , player frustrations have occasionally escalated into tense exchanges with ball boys, often stemming from perceived distractions or mishandling of equipment during high-stakes matches. For instance, during the 2025 quarterfinals on March 15, world No. 1 spiked a in frustration after losing a point, narrowly missing a ball boy positioned nearby; she later issued a public apology via , acknowledging the lapse in judgment amid online backlash for endangering the volunteer. Similarly, faced criticism in a prior match for berating a ball boy during an on-court outburst, with observers describing the interaction as humiliating for the child, though no formal sanction followed as it did not involve physical contact. Physical collisions have also sparked disputes, as seen at Wimbledon 2025 when Spaniard clashed with a ball boy while retrieving a ball during his third-round match against on July 9, prompting Munar to argue vehemently with the over the interruption, which he claimed affected his focus; the incident drew media attention but resulted in no penalties beyond a brief halt in play. These episodes highlight the vulnerability of ball boys to inadvertent player aggression under pressure, though tournament officials typically emphasize training protocols to minimize such risks without attributing systemic fault to players. In , interactions often revolve around time-wasting tactics, leading to heated confrontations. The most notorious case occurred on February 23, 2013, during a semifinal between City and Chelsea, when Chelsea's was red-carded after kicking a 17-year-old ball boy, Charlie Morgan, who had deliberately sat on the ball to delay a throw-in; Hazard claimed self-defense amid the scuffle, but the Football Association upheld the dismissal, fining him £3,120, while Morgan later pursued a successful career in business rather than football. More recently, on March 25, 2025, Carrick Rangers Jack pushed a ball boy to the ground after receiving the ball slowly during a match, prompting an immediate apology from and club condemnation, underscoring referees' authority to penalize physical overreactions even against youth assistants. Such incidents across sports reveal a where players' competitive instincts clash with ball boys' inexperience, occasionally prompting rule clarifications; for example, guidelines stress neutral assistance to avoid , yet enforcement relies on umpires' , with rare ejections for players unless is evident. In baseball, direct player-ball boy altercations are less documented, with disputes more commonly involving umpires, as in the August 23, 2025, Midwest League game where a ball boy was ejected for arguing calls while delivering s, indirectly escalating dugout tensions but not implicating field players. Overall, while most interactions remain professional, these controversies emphasize the need for enhanced protocols to protect young volunteers without impeding athletic intensity.

Strategic Misuse and Fair Play Issues

In , ball boys—often selected from local youth academies affiliated with the home team—have frequently engaged in deliberate time-wasting tactics to assist their side when defending leads, contravening fair play principles that emphasize prompt restarts and neutrality of match officials and assistants. Such misuse includes withholding balls, slow retrieval from sidelines, or refusing quick handovers, which can add seconds to minutes per incident and cumulatively disrupt game flow. UEFA's Laws of the Game stipulate that ball assistants must return balls "as quickly as possible," yet enforcement relies on referees issuing warnings or substitutions, often after repeated offenses. A notable case occurred on March 3, 2020, during AS Roma's Europa League round-of-16 match against Shakhtar , where a Roma ball boy delayed returning the ball in stoppage time of a 1-0 defeat, prompting Shakhtar's Facundo Ferreira to push him over an advertising hoarding in frustration; subsequently charged Roma with improper conduct for failing to control the boy's actions. Similar incidents in Spanish matches around 2011 involved ball boys employing "shady" delays, such as hiding balls or feigning retrieval difficulties, which referees tolerated until escalated complaints, highlighting systemic leniency toward home-side assistants. To mitigate these issues, the English implemented a protocol in March 2024 requiring ball boys to place retrieved balls into perimeter cones rather than throwing them directly to players, aiming to neutralize both deliberate delays and opportunistic quick throws that could exploit multi-ball systems for tactical edges. This change followed observations of touchline disputes where ball assistants favored one side's tempo, underscoring broader fair play concerns in professional leagues where youth participants, lacking formal neutrality training, inadvertently or under coaching influence prioritize club loyalty over impartiality. In other sports like and , strategic misuse is rarer due to stricter oversight and indoor or controlled environments, but isolated interference—such as a ball boy prematurely throwing a into stands during a 2023 Miami Marlins game, altering a potential score—has prompted replay reviews and rules clarifications to preserve outcome integrity. These episodes collectively illustrate how ball assistants' roles, intended as supportive, can erode competitive equity when exploited for micro-advantages, prompting governing bodies to enhance protocols like randomized assignments or video monitoring.

Safety and Technological Interference

Ball boys and girls in various sports face physical risks from high-speed projectiles, player collisions, and environmental hazards. In , a Tennessee Titans ball boy sustained a severe on October 13, 2024, after being collided with by quarterback during a scramble against the , requiring him to be carted off the field. Similarly, in , a ball boy at VfB Stuttgart's Champions League match against on November 7, 2024, was struck in the neck by a burning flare thrown from the stands, resulting in serious burns and medical treatment. Structural failures have also posed dangers; during a game between West Ham United and Crystal Palace on August 24, 2024, an LED advertising screen collapsed onto a Crystal Palace ball boy, who was shielded from worse by West Ham's Tomas Soucek. In , extreme heat has caused ball kids to faint or become ill, as seen at Wimbledon on July 1, 2025, when temperatures reached 32°C (90°F), forcing one to be removed mid-match. Player-ball boy collisions occur frequently in tennis due to court proximity and rapid movements. On July 9, 2025, at Wimbledon, Jaume collided with a ball boy during his against Marin Cilic, sparking an on-court dispute over positioning and protocols. Protocols in major tournaments, such as mandatory training on evasion and positioning, aim to mitigate these risks, but incidents underscore the inherent dangers for young volunteers, often aged 12-16, handling balls traveling at speeds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph) in serves. Technological interference arises primarily in tennis with electronic line-calling systems like Hawk-Eye Live, where ball boys' movements can disrupt camera tracking or activation. During the 2025 , a ball boy's positioning near the net caused the automated to fail in recognizing a serve on July 8, leading to a disputed line call in Taylor Fritz's quarterfinal win, as the software required clear player motion without obstructions. Organizers attributed the error to the ball boy and girl crossing the net prematurely during the service motion, deactivating the 's tracking. This incident followed an earlier malfunction on July 7, prompting criticism of the technology's reliance on precise human coordination, with calls for refined protocols to prevent such human-induced failures in AI-assisted officiating. No comparable widespread interference has been reported in other s' video technologies like VAR, though ball retrieval delays could indirectly affect review timings.

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  32. https://mpba.in/how-much-does-a-tennis-ball-boy-earn
  33. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/australian-open-how-become-ball-kid-do-get-paid-051424255.html
  34. https://www.reddit.com/r/olympics/comments/1epdk9n/how_much_do_olympic_ballboys_get_paid/
  35. https://www.sunjournal.com/2016/08/22/mlb-hires-bat-boys-ball-girls-salary-perks/
  36. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg64re46vk1o
  37. https://whichschooladvisor.com/uk/guides/wimbledon-ball-boys-and-ball-girls-who-they-are-and-where-do-they-come-from
  38. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10001300/
  39. https://en.as.com/other_sports/this-is-how-ball-boys-and-girls-are-selected-for-the-2025-us-open-and-how-much-money-they-make-n/
  40. https://www.tennisthis.com/tennis-ball-kids/
  41. https://www.juniorroyalsreporter.co.uk/the-unsung-heroes-english-football-ball-boys-and-girls-and-the-rules-they-follow/
  42. https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/about-the-laws/
  43. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13103555/premier-league-rule-change-to-prevent-ball-boys-and-girls-handing-match-ball-back-to-players
  44. https://www.uefa.com/sustainability/child-and-youth-protection/event-guidelines/
  45. https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/explained-how-football-managers-use-ball-boys-ball-girls-to-help-win/blt7f1ad044dba2addb
  46. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13249935/Premier-League-make-major-rule-change-ball-boys-girls-look-clamp-teams-trying-gain-advantages-incidents-season.html
  47. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bat_boy
  48. https://blog.jobsinsports.com/2023/06/26/how-to-become-bat-boy-mlb/
  49. https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2019/4/28/18518335/mlb-life-bat-boy-cardinals-tigers-fan-experience
  50. https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/team/jobs/ball-boys-girls
  51. https://www.mlb.com/giants/community/fund/programs/balldude
  52. https://www.reddit.com/r/mlb/comments/16jjxxw/why_do_mlb_teams_have_ball_boysgirls_who_dont/
  53. https://www.wisden.com/cricket-news/watch-when-a-ball-boy-stepped-onto-the-field-and-inadvertently-prevented-a-boundary-to-russell-and-bravos-dismay
  54. https://www.quora.com/How-are-ball-boys-selected-for-cricket-games
  55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQlbaGFmsNg
  56. https://dailyjournal.net/2016/10/21/theyre_part_of_the_team/
  57. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/dillonmbaker/my-brief-life-as-an-nfl-ball-boy
  58. https://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question26370.html
  59. https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/a-history-of-game-balls
  60. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaHJe9USN8
  61. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38157305/pittsburgh-steelers-training-camp-cornerback-joey-porter-jr-ball-boy
  62. https://seibertron-outdoor.com/blogs/news/how-much-does-an-nfl-ball-boy-make
  63. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/582002/2018/10/12/a-respectful-and-talented-teen-fitzgerald-flashed-elite-qualities-as-a-ball-boy/
  64. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45226210/nba-ball-boys-oklahoma-city-thunder
  65. https://blog.jobsinsports.com/2024/05/20/how-to-become-nba-ball-boy/
  66. https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/feature_ballboys_071205.html
  67. https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/13331200/iga-swiatek-pens-emotional-social-media-statement-after-criticism-for-ball-boy-incident
  68. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/shocking-moment-tennis-star-humiliated-ball-boy-tantrum-005248244.html
  69. https://www.the-sun.com/sport/14639313/wimbledon-jaume-munar-ball-kid-umpire/
  70. https://sports.yahoo.com/article/goalkeeper-apologizes-pushing-ball-boy-090640382.html
  71. https://www.squawka.com/en/cult-corner/memorable-ball-boy-moments-hazard-mourinho-guardiola/
  72. https://www.closecallsports.com/2025/08/umpire-ejects-batboy-ballboy-after.html
  73. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/shady-delay-tactics-by-ball-boys-in-spanish-soccer
  74. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/uefa-charges-roma-for-ballboys-timewasting-late-in-game
  75. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39827114/pl-ball-boys-girls-stop-returning-balls-directly-players
  76. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GgQdIPT1rk
  77. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/10/13/ball-boy-injured-will-levis-titans-colts/75662020007/
  78. https://www.the-sun.com/sport/12846615/ball-boy-injured-neck-burning-flare-champions-league/
  79. https://sports.yahoo.com/crystal-palace-ball-boy-left-161254059.html
  80. https://www.themirror.com/sport/tennis/wimbledon-ball-kid-umpire-heatwave-1238368
  81. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2wLXfNZiZM
  82. https://sports.yahoo.com/article/wimbledon-blames-ball-boy-latest-145953838.html
  83. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/sport/wimbledon-ball-boy-electronic-line-call-spt-intl
  84. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-14888619/Wimbledon-AI-line-judge-controversy.html
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