Have you got what it takes?
25 January 2012
Last Sunday, Bury St. Edmunds played host to a 'search for a star' style initiative to find Britain's next top ball kids to take part in the end of season Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2, London.
Over seventy excited 12-16 year olds hot footed it down to Culford School tennis centre in Bury St. Edmunds on Sunday to test out their skills on court with a host of the UK's top coaches looking on.
With an air of excitement shaking the building, the kids side-stepped, rolled and bounced their way through the hour-and-a-half long session, hoping to impress the Barclays Ball Kids Talent ID Team of coaches on hand to offer their advice.
It was a close call on who to put through but the coaches finally agreed on six lucky youngsters to showcase their talents at the final trial in London on April 28th. Jared Bones (age 14, from Ipswich), Leon Bailey (14, Haverhill), Olivia Sofroniou (13, Basildon), Jack Kearton (14, Colchester), Hannah Vickers (13, Stoke-by-Nayland) and Patrick Styles (13, Stowmarket) all showed the team they possessed many of the skills needed to be in with a chance of being a Barclays Ball Kid and they really have raised the bar in this year's search for the final thirty.
Hannah Vickers captures the emotions of all six national finalists:
“I have played tennis since I was 6 and love the sport. Barclays Ball Kids is a great opportunity for me to meet the players and see up close what I could become. I think I might have a chance because I love the sport and I would love to get there! I work really, really hard and won’t ever give up! It would be a dream come true if they were to pick me for the final squad.”
This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for kids from all over the UK to take part in the world's most prestigious and glamorous indoor tournament. Where else would you find the top eight male tennis players in the world battling it out under a laser show of bright lights, in one of the world's most famous arenas, with pumping music, celebrities and over a quarter of a million fans from all over the world coming to watch throughout the week?
It’s a way of getting kids out and doing some exercise. A way of introducing them to the world of sport. A way of giving children the chance to walk out on court with the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
So hold your breath and wait for the hundred finalists to be whittled down to the final pick of thirty kids. It's the chance to become one of the most envied kids in town. The chance to be a star of 2012.
They always say 'the best ball kids are the ones that go un-noticed'. So keep your head down, stay out of trouble and stay focussed. You never know, it could be you.
Latest News
Bromley's Record Turn Out for Barclays Ball Kids
The fifth Barclays Ball Kids Regional Selection Trial took place at the Bromley Tennis Centre on Saturday 4th February
Find us on Facebook