Tennis ACT is training up-and-coming ball kids for the Canberra International later this week, one of five pro tour events hosted in Canberra.

So, in the interest of bringing you, our readers, the news you want, I joined students from Canberra High School at ball kid training to see if I've got what it takes to be a ball girl.

Just so you know, anyone can be a ball kid - or ball person as they call it. However, as the name implies, ball "kids'"are generally 11-years plus, though still actually kids ... something I am no longer - despite my zest for life and occasional tendency to skip instead of walk.

Long sleeve sun-protective shirt. Check. White canvas shoes. Check. Long-ish white socks. Check. Legionnaires hat. Check.

I'm ready.

When I arrive I catch up with ball kid coordinator Jake Lalliard who tells me to be a good ball kid, you need to have good hand-eye co-ordination, ball skills, listening skills, focus, concentration and observation.

I laugh nervously ... when I was at school, I used to avoid ball sports because of my lack of hand-eye co-ordination. I've now graduated to avoiding sports all together. I like to think that I have good listening skills as well as focus, concentration and observation skills, so four out of six on the list isn't bad right?

It's time to test my skills.

I join seven other ball kid hopefuls as we gather around Jake, who runs us through what's involved. First up, bowling.

In pairs, we practice bowling the ball across the court. We're told to make sure the ball doesn't bounce too much and that it's smooth. I bend one leg forward, stretch the other one back, pull my right hand back, holding the ball, and release. I do three balls in a row.

First attempt and the ball rolls smoothly. My partner does the same and returns the ball. We practice a few times until Jake calls us to gather round again.

He tells us to practice throwing our balls, using our dominant hand, to our partners.

At this stage I'm sweating, a lot. It's a hot day and there's no shade in sight.

I stand with my legs shoulder-width apart, with balls in hands, I show my partner what I have, I lift my right hand and throw one to her. I do it again.

My turn to be the player. My partner throws the balls to me - I lift my hand up high, stepping on my tippy toes to reach the ball ... I miss it. Bugger. She throws another two, I catch them and let out a big cheer.

Jake tells us we're going to practice running and fetching the ball. By now, I'm already puffing because I'm running to get the balls I couldn't catch. So more running, great.

We're told that each match has six ball kids, two at the serving end, two at the net and two at the receiving end.

Jake serves the ball and intentionally makes it a foul so we can run and retrieve the ball.

After I do my last run at retrieving the ball, I put them back in the box, pack my bags, say goodbye and head back to the newsroom where I am apparently unrecognisable because I "look like a kid from behind" my colleagues tell me. (They also tell me they can't take me seriously as a journalist because I look 12.)

The verdict: It was super fun ... but very, very exhausting. It's a lot harder than just standing there and rolling and catching balls. Ball kids need to be fast and efficient and make sure they're ready to assist players when needed. They also assist with the rhythm and speed of the match. I think I've got what it takes to be a ball girl.

Details: Training sessions will run on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday this week at the Canberra Tennis Centre from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Ball kids need to be a minimum of 10 years old, and they can come along to a training session or contact ball kid coordinator, Jake for further detail jlalliard@tennis.com.au or (02) 6160 7800.

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