By Karen Ronney

Want to be a ball person for the BNP Paribas Open ATP Tour and WTA 1000 next year at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden? It’s a great chance get involved in professional tennis up close to possibly see tennis greats such as Novak Djokovic, Cameron Norrie, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek, Maria Sakkari, Paula Badosa, Elena Rybakina and other top pro players.

Registration is open for individuals between the ages of 13 and 35, who are invited to participate in local training opportunities on December 2-3, and 9-10 from 2:30pm to 7pm at the Barnes Tennis Center.

Candidate should have an understanding of tennis and its rules, and pass an open book Ball Crew Quiz. Videos are provided for visual demonstrations of on-court procedures.  Shifts are 6  hours, and the normal schedule is one hour on court followed by one hour of rest. You must commit to a minimum of six shifts during the two-week tournament.

Members of the Ball Crew will receive the following:

  • A credential for entry to the grounds.
  • Two complimentary BNP Paribas Open grounds pass tickets, for parents and friends, for the entire tournament.
  • An official BNP Paribas Open uniform.
  • A meal allowance for every shift you take.
  • A chance to make new friends for an experience of a lifetime.

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California is one of the premier tournaments in the world and the BNP Ball Crew Team is an essential part of the event.  The BNP Ball Crew Committee strives each year to maintain and improve performance on court. The program is designed to provide candidates with the tools and training to be one of the best. To register for this program, CLICK HERE.

“This is a great opportunity for So Cal tennis fans to be a part of a great event,” said Linda Milan, the Executive Director for the Southern California Tennis Association Foundation. “They can learn the skills close to home and still get involved at the BNP Paribas Open. ”

About the Southern California Tennis Association Foundation:

We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is the charitable arm of USTA Southern California.  The Foundation’s mission is to “Change lives and build communities through tennis.” Since 2020, the SCTA Foundation has had a community impact of giving over $1million in tennis grants and tennis scholarships to deserving youth, adults, tennis organizations, tennis facilities and tennis programs to make tennis an equal opportunity sport, accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, or economic background. Visit us on Social Media on Instagram and Facebook. To learn more about the SCTA Foundation go to: www.sctafoundation.org.  To donate go to: sctafoundation.org/donate/ or https://secure.qgiv.com/for/sctfougivtue.