Back in January, the girls starting training to be a Ball Kid for the two big tennis tournaments we have each year in the desert, The Oracle Challenger Series and the BNP Paribas Open.
To be a ball kid, is almost like a rite of passage for young teens around here.
Our desert is known for world class golf and tennis.
They have to watch every play carefully, then chase after the balls,
while following all the do's and don'ts of ball kid etiquette.
while following all the do's and don'ts of ball kid etiquette.
They have to supply and retrieve sweaty towels from the players.
They have to stand very still and quiet in the hot sun.
They have to provide shade if necessary.
It's very much an introduction to job training and the experience of having a real job.
These kids hustled and worked hard. We're so proud of them!
They especially loved meeting new friends and all the fun they had.
After working the Oracle Challenger Series for a week (almost every day from 9-6PM), they were all looking forward to the big tourney, the BNP Paribas Open.
The ball kids all got their cute uniforms for the BNP.
They couldn't have been more excited to work their first shift the next morning!
Until we found out the night before, the BNP would be cancelled this year.
Coronavirus found its way to Coachella Valley and the tournament was off, just like that.
This was a huge disappointment to everyone. Especially those who made travel plans and flew in from other areas. Little did we know this was just the beginning of this incredible time in history. #pandemic
The 2020 Ball Kid Team will go down in history as the only ones who were trained but did not get to work.
Regardless, the girls really enjoyed the experience and now they are already looking forward to next year!
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