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Original poster

That Wimbeldon ball boys/girls are exploited and treat like shit

179 replies

Inkanta · 08/07/2015 05:29

I don't think they should be expected to pass towels to players after each point and when the player wipes the sweat off his face and walks around the court, have to face the player and walk backwards, waiting to be thrown the sweat soaked towel, sometimes viscously at their face. One ball girl was in tears yesterday after being yelled after by Novak-Djokovic. Can't be right surely.

OP posts:
MargoReadbetter · 08/07/2015 07:42

001... I'm not referring to the towels side of the posts in any of mine, just the selection from schools and shouting.

MargoReadbetter · 08/07/2015 07:43

'[...] he did it once, it was a stressful job and it wasn't the end of the world'

ilovesooty · 08/07/2015 07:44

Surely they know what the job entails when they volunteer?

Rudeness to the ball people could be dealt with by the umpire as a code violation.

However you're being utterly ridiculous about the role of the ball boys/girls. They aren't compelled to do it.

CrystalHaze · 08/07/2015 07:45

*He was in trouble for this is Miami.

I hadn't noticed he'd done it again at Wimbledon.*

I get the impression he (and his family) are fairly unpleasant in general. He does a good PR job on himself most of the time, but under pressure the mask tends to slip.

MargoReadbetter · 08/07/2015 07:45

'There will be yelling. It's not ok, but it happens.'

Nromanoff · 08/07/2015 07:50

Yes it's not ok, but it happens! You missed the bit where it said 'it's not ok'

And yes it's not the end of the world.

People shout in RL all the time. aometimes in public, it's not ok, but not the end of the world.

Nromanoff · 08/07/2015 07:51

Towels have been included for 15 years according to you OP. So for at least the last 14 years the people who want to do it, know about it. Again how is that slavery?

claraschu · 08/07/2015 07:51

They get to skip 2 weeks of school. and they are part of something extraordinary. The sweat and a bit of shouting are probably part of the excitement, something fun to complain about afterwards.

AuntyMag10 · 08/07/2015 07:51

And yet these boys and girls still want to do it so no it doesn't seem that bad.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/07/2015 07:53

Towel slavery! This has made my day. Grin

If only one could catch the fitness by exchange of bodily fluids, I'd be in the Wimbledon final. My husband is one of the fittest people I know. I'm...... not.

ilovesooty · 08/07/2015 07:53

Do you devote much time to addressing real human rights issues worldwide OP?

mrsdavidbowie · 08/07/2015 07:55

Ask the ball girl if she is deeply traumatised or needs counselling........I'm sure in their training the possibility that a player may lose their temper is addressed.

I'm no fan of Novak or indeed any tennis player apart from Federer perhaps, but he has made himself look a knob. It was seen..its in the papers...he had to apologise.

Roussette · 08/07/2015 07:58

Towel slaves?! Gloves?! Kids are far more robust than we give them credit for, do we have to cushion them through the whole of their lives until adulthood and never let anyone get just a bit irritated with them?

Every year the competition is extremely fierce and applicatins to be a ball boy/girl is very over subscribed. It is a privilege to be one! Imagine being on centre court at mens final and watching the best tennis in the world, seeing every grmace, every smile, every expression from the top seeds playing feet away from you. Hardly slaves.....

this sums it up. It's a thread on Reddit called AMA (Ask me Anything). It's a ballboy answering questions to anyone from the US, it's obvious how much he loves doing this, it's his 4th wimbledon.

Nromanoff · 08/07/2015 07:58

Wonder if there is a support group for them for when they escape the horror

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 08/07/2015 08:01

Another case of someone getting outraged on behalf of others that don't need you to OP.

They're not forced to do it, they're selected from lots of hopefuls & get to watch some of the best tennis in the world, next to their hero's.

I'm sure there are more worthy targets for your crusading...

gabsdot45 · 08/07/2015 08:02

Being a ball boy at Wimbledon would be a dream come true for loads of kids. Certainly when I was a teen I would have loved it and I'm not even a big tennis fan.
I'd say that girl who was crying after being shouted at was just worried about loosing her plum role and being bumped for someone on the waiting list.
(it was still mean of him to shout at her though)

Original poster
Inkanta · 08/07/2015 08:03

ilovesooty

It's a question of kid's rights in the workplace. I'm talking about Welfare at Work and the obligation of the workplace to ensure staff's rights - in the realm of hygiene, cleanliness and waste disposal. It seems to me the kids have no rights here - and they cannot go and wash their hands during a long match and are expected to constantly handle snotty, sweat soaked towels.

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 08/07/2015 08:05

OP, stop now. You are clearly on a wind up mission.

Floundering · 08/07/2015 08:06

Oh FFS!! Really OP?? Grin

Being at Wimbledon in ANY capacity if you are into tennis is a HUGE experience for a youngster, the atmosphere is terrific & (mostly) the players very kind & appreciative of the staff. Yes it's hard work but the kids love it.

I'm sure if any of the little darlings were bothered about a bit of sweat their own Mumsies would have veto'd their application don't you worry !

Sparklingbrook · 08/07/2015 08:06

Why does the towel have to be passed to them? What happened to sweatbands a la John McEnroe?

Roussette · 08/07/2015 08:07

Have they complained that they want to wash their hands? Nope. Has any of them (or their parents who are probably pushy and want the best for them and are probably over the moon they are doing this) talked about Welfare at Work? Nope.

I have never heard anything like this. Finding a problem where there isn't one. Kids aren't made of cottonwool and fluff, they can handle a sweaty towel without having to wash their hands continually.

Hannahouse · 08/07/2015 08:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

magimedi · 08/07/2015 08:08

they cannot go and wash their hands during a long match

The ball girls & boys are only on court for an hour at a time. They do not work for the whole of a match.

I'd be far more exercised about being a line judge - they need danger money, especially when 'Dr Ivo' serves!

I'm almost (but not quite) tempted to nominate this thread for Classics - only on Mumsnet would you get such a level of worry over something so daft!

Roussette · 08/07/2015 08:10

Imagine being able to tell your children or grandchildren "I was the ball girl at the mens final in 2015 and I will never forget it as long as I live".

It's hardly sending 5 year olds up chimneys is it?! Why don't you start up a Union for ballgirls and boys OP - see how you get on... Hmm

Sparklingbrook · 08/07/2015 08:10

I can't see why kids would want to do it personally.