To think that Wimbledon needs to up its game?

[CoffeeCantata]

I love watching Wimbledon and so much about it is excellent but...

The poor Linesmen/women! Those horrible outfits suit absolutely no-one and are totally inappropriate for the job. Whatever their physique, this gear just doesn't seem to fit any of them. Shirts with contrasting collars, ties (for goodness' sake!) and badly-cut trousers. How about a smart polo shirt and either shorts or culottes?

Why do the ball-girls have to wear skirts? Why not shorts like the boys? Seems a bit outmoded.

The umpires' chairs are magnificent structures, affording excellent views and with multiple shelves and all kinds of devices attached - they want for nothing. But the players!! Two miserable plastic chairs?? Why can't they have a specially designed unit featuring a cushioned seat, an integrated, lidded cool-box and shelves for all their stuff? It seems they just have to dump all their stuff around them - very untidy and a bit 'school sports day'.

Ball girls love their outfits. They are very proud to wear it (and get to keep it:)).
All uniforms are so well colour coordinated, it all looks elegant and stylish and really adds to the atmosphere of the tournament.

I think they look great and it all works very well. Going is an event that people dress for, like Ascot but slightly more casual and fewer hats

Just talked to DH about it and he compared it to the clothes people wear to the races.

Gender-neutral hadn't occurred to me. I was thinking more of how I'd feel as a teenage girl, having to crouch down near the net ready to spring up, or to run across the court etc, wearing a skirt which might reveal my knicks

Based on many of the teenage girls I see around here most of them have no problem with showing too much of their arse so I can’t imagine this is an issue for them.

I guess I just had no idea that it has this posh vibe going on before I went. Its like turning up to a black tie event in jeans.😄 The attire of the staff is clearly all part of that vibe. I'll know for next time if we are ever lucky enough to get tickets in the ballot again.

How do they choose the ball boys/girls? I thought they would be tennis fans/ young players.....but I saw a video yesterday when 2 of the players played with 2 of the ball girls and they were reeealllly bad at tennis! Like they could barely hit the ball. Just seemed strange!

They are kids from local schools I think.

There are beautifully dressed people at Wimbledon but there are also a lot of people who dress for comfort. There are exquisitely posh restaurants and there are queues for pizza. I like the contrast of it all

That said, I agree that the linesman's outfits did no one any favours despite being high end designer

Yes there are a few schools locally that provide balls boys and girls. I was also there yesterday and thought they looked great.

Not sure why they have the navy working there but the various uniforms do add to the atmosphere.

They absolutely are.

Local schools make sense...I quite liked the uniforms. Just thought that kids who volunteered would at least be able to play a bit too!

They certainly have training but maybe it’s more fetching and running than hitting

The kids are from local schools and you have a better chance if you are (for example) a good cricketer — excellent ball skills, accurate throwing/catching, fast running. They aren’t judged on their tennis. The girls wear skorts, all school sports uniforms round here are like that as well, is that unusual? Nobody’s knicks are on show. Personally I find them more comfortable than shorts that are clingier on the legs.
The umpire / line judge uniforms are Ralph Lauren, it’s personal preference I guess but I’m not sure a polo shirt and shorts is quite the vibe. The idea is to look traditional but also modern. Not everyone’s figure suits the same pair of trousers I guess. Wimbledon is actually the only slam still to have the line judges and I quite like it.
dressing up is only for debenture areas and members’ enclosure — in the cheap seats / ground pass, wear what you like.

They get paid. They aren't volunteers.

Current designer is Ralph Lauren.

Pupils from schools in Merton and Wandsworth can apply to be ball girls/boys and the training is terrifically strict - there was a documentary about it a few years back

It's certain specific schools, in Merton, Wandsworth and Kingston for certain. They have several selection rounds within the school first and then the best go to a different training location and they get whittled down even more. The selections start in the autumn term and they have training from then until the championships. You had to know the basics of tennis to pass one of the selection rounds (the scoring system for sure!)

I go most years, I don't dress up, I wear trainers or walking sandals and trousers - whatever is appropriate for the weather forecast. Most people that I see dress similarly. But I don't mix with debenture holders or royal box attendees as I'm just a pleb. I don't have a tennis court at home. There are abour 42,000 people who attend each day, if they all had a tennis court there'd be an even bigger housing crisis in the country!

Is Kyriargos still commentating on bbc? The person who thinks Andrew Tate Is a great guy? If so, I won't be watching.

This. The reason it is:so good and prestigious is because of the traditions. If you start changing everything it loses its charm!

I do t know what happened when he you went but I've been twice and there is a mix of people dressed up (some areas have dress codes) and people just dressed as if on a day out. Most people are the latter. I never dress up and have never felt out of place. There's also a real mix of people. I was brought up on a council estate and definitely do not have a tennis court!

They are from local schools.

players need a cool box under chair. The chair is fine! they are pros

I think lines ppls clothes is done by the sponsor.

I think it's nice to dress up, there's leisure wear and trainers everywhere eise nowadays. I like the smart vibe.

I remember seeing a documentary about the ball kids training and they do a brilliant job with them. It’s very competitive and they work really hard for it. It must be an awesome experience for them. I can’t say that my immediate thought when looking at the girls was re-design the uniform. I’d also say having recently been at a sports day, the girls in skorts were probably more appropriately dressed than some of the very short shorts on display.

This. The reason it is:so good and prestigious is because of the traditions. If you start changing everything it loses its charm!

I think it’s changed quite a bit tbh compared to say 25 years ago. When I young, the ball person outfits were not RL, my siblings and friends were ball boys/girls. I think it was fewer schools back in those days. You could turn up early but not ridiculously early and get a ground pass which let you sit on one side of court 2. It’s definitely got posher & more celebrity photo opp!

My daughter was a ball girl 2 years running. They are skorts, they had no embarrassment wearing them. She loved the whole feeling of wimbledon and took great pride doing her job. My niece has worked there as a grounds person for the last 3 years and loves it because it is wimbledon, unique. Somethings can just be left alone.