LEVEL 1 BALLKID TRIALS Assessment Criteria Level1 Trials are the second stage of selection for both the Australian Open and Australian Open Series Ballkids Programs. At these events, ballkids will be graded on 3 key criteria, these being; Rolling Servicing Speed & Coordination As a guide, the above criteria are assessed through the demonstration of the following skills; Ability to roll a ball Speed and agility fitness test (movement across the court) Ability to collect/control multiple tennis balls on the run Ability to service the ball to the player (ball toss, / presenting the balls to the player) Willingness to stay focused, comprehend instruction, improve personal skill level Cooperation/teamwork/attitude/behaviour Applicants are assessed as being either Highly Competent, Competent, Developing or Not Competent in the relation to the 3 criteria. Below if the grading rubric for Level 1 Trials. Highly Competent Competent Developing Not Competent Rolling Rolls are consistently fast, flat and accurate 100% to 75% of the time. Child demonstrates an understanding of the correct technique for rolling. Rolls are consistently fast, flat and accurate 75% to 50% of the time. Child demonstrates an understanding of the correct technique for rolling. Rolls are fast, flat and accurate 50% to 25% of the time. The child attempts to demonstrate the correct rolling technique during the trial. Rolls are not consistently fast, flat and accurate. The child is unable to demonstrate an understanding of the correct technique for rolling. Servicing Child demonstrates a servicing technique that displays; straight arms, controlled ball toss, consistency and good reaction speeds to the situation. This should occur 100% to 75% of the time. Child demonstrates a servicing technique that displays; straight arms, controlled ball toss, consistency and good reaction speeds to the situation. This should occur 75% to 50% of the time. Child demonstrates a servicing technique that displays; straight arms, controlled ball toss, consistency and good reaction speeds to the situation. This should occur 50% to 25%of the time. Child is unable to correctly demonstrate any of the following when servicing; straight arms, controlled ball toss, consistency and good reaction speeds. Speed & Coordination Applicant is able to demonstrate consistent speed 100% to 75% of the time in addition to a high level of coordination at all times throughout the activity. Applicant is able to cross the net cleanly and collect the ball without fumbling the ball. Applicant is able to demonstrate consistent speed 75% to 50% of the time in addition to a developed level of coordination at all times throughout the activity. Applicant is able to cross the net and collect the ball without fumbling the ball. Applicant is able to demonstrate consistent speed 50% to 25% of the time in addition to a moderate level of coordination at all times throughout the activity. Applicant able to cross the net but fumbles the ball when collecting. Applicant is unable to demonstrate consistent speed at all; there is a very limited level of coordination. Applicant is unable to cross the net cleanly; ball is fumbled when collected. Trial Dates & Times Australian Open Sydney International Hopman Cup Hobart International Date March 4 to March 25 March 10 & 11 TBC TBC Location Various Locations Tennis World, Sydney Olympic Park State Tennis Centre, Burswood Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart Times Various; please refer to Trial Registration page for individual session times TBC TBC Outcome Announcement March 29 March 29 TBC TBC General Information HOW LONG DO TRIALS LAST: Each Level 1 Trial will run for approximately 2 hours. WHAT TO WEAR: Comfortable sporting attire, non-marking tennis shoes WHAT TO BRING: Water bottle EMERGENCY: In case of an emergency on the day, please ring 03 9914 4676. IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE Attendance is compulsory, and non-attendance will result in your application being withdrawn. Absentees will not be offered an alternative trial session. Trial times are final and cannot be changed. Please be punctual, as your opportunity to participate will be jeopardised by late arrival. Please advise of any medical conditions or injuries at the time of registration. In the event of wet weather it will be down to the discretion of the Trial Facilitator and Tennis Australia Representative to determine if the trial will be cancelled; if this is the case, applicants will be contacted by Tennis Australia in order to arrange a make up sess. We have the utmost confidence in the validity and fairness of the selection process and would like to highlight that: Tennis Australia employs a team of experienced staff who are responsible for the selection and training of all Ballkid volunteers. Tennis Australia is regarded as having the most outstanding ballkids of all the Grand Slams, something we are extremely proud of and work very hard to maintain. Each child is assessed by a minimum of two staff members. Each child is graded on their suitability to perform both a net or baseline position. It is a very competitive field - children are considered on their own merit and the outcome is dependent on the performance of each applicant during the selection trial. Frequently Asked Questions How many people have applied to be Australian Open Ballkids? Approximately 2500 children aged between 12 to 15 years apply for the Australian Open Ballkids Program each year. What happens after the Level 1 Trials? At the conclusion of the trial period in March, applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application e.g. successful or unsuccessful. Successful applicants will be invited to attend the Level 2 Trials in May. Successful candidates will be those applicants (regardless of venue) who rank in the top 400 performers at the conclusion of the ballkid trials. What am I being assessed on at Level 1 Trials? At the Level 1 Trials, applicants will be assessed on their ability to roll the ball (in line with the AO way of rolling), service the ball and general movement around the court. When will I be notified of the outcome of my trial? Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their trials by no later than March 29 2018. When are Level 2 Trials held? Level 2 Trials for the Australian Open will be held on May 5 and 6 at the National Tennis Centre (Melbourne Park) in Melbourne. Level 2 Trials for the Sydney International will be held on March 11 at Tennis World, Sydney Olympic Park. Level 2 Trials for all other events will be held in late 2018. If I am selected for the Ballkids Training Program, when does training begin? Training for the AO Ballkid Program commences in July 2018 and is held over one weekend a month through August, September & October. AOS Ballkid training programs will commence in late 2018. If I am selected for the Australian Open Ballkid Training Program, does this mean that I am in the tournament squad? No, selection into the Ballkids Training Program means that the applicant has been invited to participate in the training program in preparation for selection into the tournament squad at the end of October. The Ballkid Training Program is designed to train and refine the skills of children in the role of the ballkid; applicants will be graded at each training session between July and October whilst these grades being used to determine a final ranking score. The top 310 children from the training program will be invited to form the Tournament Squad for the Australian Open for that year. How many Australian Open training sessions do I need to attend? Ballkids must attend all training sessions in order to be considered for selection into the Tournament Squad. When are training sessions held? All dates for the AO Ballkids Program & Sydney International Ballkids Program (trials, training, tournament) can be found online at the ballkids website (http://ballkids.tennis.com.au) under the ‘KEY DATES’ page. Where can I find training resources? Training resources can be found online at https://ballkids.tennis.com.au/Resources.aspx. What is the best contact for the AO Ballkids Program? The AO Ballkids team can be contacted at aoballkids@tennis.com.au or on 03 9914 4676.