Three Ways to Get Involved: Serve As A Volunteer, Tryout To Be A Ballkid Or Compete In The Pre-Qualifying Tournament

Registration Applications:  Pre-Qualifying / Tri-Level Championships / Senior Cup

The BNP Paribas Open, the largest ATP World Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world, to be held March 5-18, 2012 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, offers three great ways to become involved in the tournament: serve as a volunteer, tryout to become a ballkid or compete in the Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

From directing fans to their seats on Stadium Court to working with hundreds of international media members in the state of the art media center to transporting players around the Coachella Valley, more than 1,000 volunteers representing The Champions Volunteer Foundation help the world-class sporting event run smoothly. Volunteers can request to work on any of the 20 different committees including ushers, transportation, player services, media services and special events. Not only do these hard-working individuals aid with the inner-workings of the tournament, but they also have the added benefit of watching some of the best tennis in the world for free.

In addition to those volunteers, each year the tournament selects a group of approximately 300 ballkids between the ages of 12 and 20 to work on court with the pros. BNP Paribas Open ballkids are some of the best in the world, and to join their ranks for the first time, youngsters must attend four out of eight training sessions from Jan. 28- Feb. 21, to learn the ins and outs of the job, and work a minimum of five sessions (including two day sessions) at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open.

Finally, avid tennis players looking for their big break on an international stage can enter the BNP Paribas Open Pre-Qualifying Tournament, taking place Feb. 27- March 3 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Winners of this event earn a wild card into the qualifying draw of the BNP Paribas Open. From local high school students, to those working their way up the international tennis rankings, 140 tennis players competed in the 2011 Pre-Qualifier. Former UCLA standout and current ATP World Tour professional Daniel Kosakowski captured the men’s event while former Easter Bowl champion and then 16-year old Krista Hardebeck earned the women’s crown.

No matter who you are, there is definitely a spot for you to not just witness, but become a part of the 2012 BNP Paribas Open. For more information on serving as a volunteer or ballkid click here. To sign up to compete in the 2012 Pre-Qualifying Tournament click here or contact Tom Fey, Director of Tennis, Indian Wells Tennis Garden, at 760-200-8200 or tfey@iwtg.net.