Wimbledon's ball boys and ball girls (BBGs) will receive approximately £200 to cover expenses during the 2026 Championships, according to tournament organisers. The payment, which is not a salary but an expense allowance, is provided for their two weeks of service at the All England Club.
Selection and Training Process
Each year, Wimbledon receives around 1,400 applications from youngsters eager to become BBGs. Approximately 280 are selected, with most aged between 14 and 17. Of those, roughly 180 are Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from local participating schools, while an additional 100 are returning BBGs who worked at previous Championships.
Training for the role begins in February, with prospective candidates attending multiple weekly sessions at the All England Club's training centre in Raynes Park. There, they complete intensive speed drills, court exercises, and written tests to assess their grasp of rules and procedures. From mid-May, training moves to the grass courts at Wimbledon, where BBGs practise in full uniform before millions of spectators globally.
Former Wimbledon ball boy Alex Crockford, who worked at the Championships during the 2000s, described the preparation as demanding. "The training was intense and very physical," he told the Express. "We practiced how to throw the ball perfectly to the players and how to stand still for long periods."
Compensation and Perks
Despite the demanding role, BBGs do not earn a salary. Instead, they receive a payment of roughly £200 to cover expenses during the two-week tournament. For most youngsters, the opportunity to work at one of the most prestigious events on the British sporting calendar is valued beyond monetary compensation.
Additional perks include free meals and refreshments while on duty, and the chance to keep their official Wimbledon kit, provided by luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren. Top-performing BBGs may also earn the opportunity to operate on showcase courts such as Centre Court or Court One, providing an ideal viewpoint for some of the most important matches in world tennis.
Role and Impact
BBGs are tasked with ensuring all 675 matches run smoothly by collecting wayward balls and supplying players with fresh ones swiftly. Their role is integral to the Championships, which this year features defending men's champion Jannik Sinner, seven-time winner Novak Djokovic, women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, and British star Emma Raducanu.
