Forget fancy training camps and experience on the court — if you want a world-class ballkid for a tennis tournament like the ASB Classic you need three things: A dog, a ball pit and an overly invested Seven Sharp reporter in the shape of Lucas de Jong.
New Zealand's top tennis tournament, the ASB Classic, is just over a month away and that means training is in full swing.
Every weekend at Merton Road Tennis Centre they gather — 12 to 14-year-old tennis-loving kids who are all prepared to volunteer weeks of their summer holidays at New Zealand's biggest tennis event.
Keith Burnet is the man tasked with getting around 200 teens to stand still and stay focused.
"The first session is for the new kids this year. We go through the basics on how to roll a ball — have it nice and smooth and get it around the court as fast as you can."
They cover everything from presentation to the bounce — you don't just chuck it at the player, there's a finesse and a technique to everything that happens on the court.
And playing ball is only the beginning.
"The things they can't do is show bias towards a player or cheer or clap, but as long as they are focused and do what they need to do when the point is over I'm all for them enjoying the match."
Thirteen-year-old Sofia Potenciano was quick to point out some clear don'ts — like juggling the balls and catching them on the full.
"Oh I wish I could ask for a signature or something but I can't. I've just got to stay quiet and do a job," she said.
Echoed Jess Chenery: "There will be times when your favourite player is on the court and you want to cheer but you are not allowed to be biased."
Both girls have graced the courts of the ASB Classic before and they were quick to point out the hardest part.
"There are days where you get home at 1 or 2am and it's just trying to stay awake and not doze off mid-way."
The tournament needs around 100 ballkids every day in the opening stages but only the best will make it through to final night.
"It's all to do with the responsiveness," explained Burnet. "How much attention they are paying. How quick they are to get the balls and get them around the court.
"Once you get to the big finals and it's aired worldwide you want it to be as tidy and professional as possible."
While "traditional training" has proven successful over the years, it has its weaknesses.
At LiveWire Superpark in Birkenhead, a select few were given the opportunity to elevate their ball-kid game — and provide entertaining television for Seven Sharp.
From catching tennis balls on trampolines, to having balls fired at them in cricket cages, the scene was set to take average ballkids and make them amazing.
The pièce de résistance was teaching resilience by getting them to search for a non-existent tennis ball in a ball pit.
For those who made it through the "weirdest training camp ever" without crying, there was one final test — could they beat a ball-loving dog at some basic ball skill exercises?
Remus the dog was a good boy, but what advantages he had in speed he lost in focus.
One by one the ballkids beat him. They stood at attention longer. Understood the signals tennis players provided better and they didn't go to the toilet on the court.
They were ready. Ready for front-row seats (seats not included) to some of the best tennis New Zealand has to offer. And although they don't get paid — it's a job they'd do again in a heartbeat.
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