Association Football
High-profile association football matches may employ ball boys to facilitate quick play, avoiding long delays when a game ball leaves the pitch and its immediate vicinity. Typically positioned behind the advertising boards, ball boys will generally try and be in possession of a spare ball at all times, such that this can be given to the players prior to the loose ball retrieved. Ball boys are not permitted to enter the field of play.
In Europe, clubs often hold tryouts for team associated ball boys and girls where there can be as many as 1,200 applicants. In North America the standard practice is to employ volunteers from local youth teams as a form of community outreach.
Read more about this topic: Ball Boy
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