U.S. Open ballperson tryouts

Ever wonder how those teenage girls and boys you see at the nets during the U.S. Open get a chance to rub shoulders with professional tennis superstars like Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Venus and Serena Williams? You could join them, too.
No, they're not part of a lucky lottery or drawing. Each and every one of them earned their way into that very position. And here's your chance for a few extra bucks this summer.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) will hold ballperson tryouts today, Thursday June 29th at 4 p.m. at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where kids 14 years of age and up are invited to come out and vie for a prestigious and fun position at the U.S. Open.
Prospective ballpersons will be evaluated on their running, throwing and catching skills in a series of assorted drills. Registration begins at 3 p.m. The tryouts will be held rain or shine.
There are two different positions requiring either quickness and hand-eye coordination (net position) or a strong throwing arm (backcourt). The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam tournament that requires its ballpersons to throw the ball across the full length of the court rather than roll it along the sidelines.
The U.S. Open employs 270 ballpersons each year. About 75 rookies will rotate into this year’s U.S. Open ballperson corps. Rookies earn minimum wage as part of the 10,000-person staff needed to run the tournament. The U.S. Open is the only grand slam event that pays its ballpersons.
Anyone under the age of 18 must have valid New York State working papers in order to work at the U.S. Open. For more information, the general public should contact the USTA National Tennis Center at (718) 760-6200.
The 2006 U.S. Open will be held Monday, August 28 through Sunday, September 10 at the USTA National Tennis Center.