​While players usually seize the spotlight on Wimbledon’s courts, plenty of other staff and volunteers line the sidelines to keep the action flowing smoothly. We asked the All England Club about umpiring, ball crew, and the behind-the-scenes details that help Wimbledon run like clockwork.
Question: Do umpires ever go off court? Do they get breaks, and how do they manage bathroom needs? Can they order food to their seats?
Answer: Umpires do get breaks between matches when they are officiating more than one match in a day. If a comfort break is necessary during a match, it is allowed, though they try to avoid it whenever possible. They cannot order meals to their chair, but smaller items such as bananas can be brought to them, and they ensure they drink enough water to stay hydrated.
Question: Can umpires overturn electronic decisions?
Answer: No. Decisions made by electronic systems like Hawk-Eye are final, and players do not have the option to challenge those calls.
Question: What is on the umpire’s iPad/tablet?
Answer: Umpires use tournament management software during the match to help with scoring and to access other data as needed.
Question: Do ball boys and girls get paid?
Answer: Ball boys and girls do not receive a salary; instead, they receive a stipend to cover expenses for the two-week event.
Question: How can you become a ball boy or girl at Wimbledon? Is there a minimum age?
Answer: Ball boys and girls are selected from local schools. The age range is roughly from Year 9 to Year 13 (ages about 13–18). Each year about 280 youngsters are chosen from around 1,600 applicants.
Question: How long do ball girls and boys train before Wimbledon, and what does training involve?
Answer: Training runs once a week from February through June, with an additional full training week just before the qualifying rounds.
Question: Why don’t ball boys and girls carry the finalists’ bags anymore?
Answer: They still do in some cases, but players are asked whether they want their bags carried. Not every finalist opts to have their bags carried.
This piece comes from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team, offering a peek behind the scenes at Wimbledon. It also connects to related topics for better SEO, such as why you see empty seats on show courts, what Wimbledon’s Last 8 Club is, the heat rules on site, and how famous faces are invited into Wimbledon’s royal box.