When you’re in the stands watching WHS girls and boys soccer, your eyes are always drawn to the players. However, along the sidelines are young boys and girls cheering on the varsity teams: those are the Westfield Blue Devil ball boys and girls.
These kids are part of the early stages of the Westfield soccer program and can sign up to stand on the field to shag balls, ensuring the game continues to move quickly. The usual age range is children from 6th to 8th grade.
Despite it being a basic job, these young boys and girls greatly admire the varsity team. A ball girl said, “They do a lot of moves that I want to try and learn. I’ve actually been practicing the moves too.”
Whether it’s regarding their skills or how they work as a team, the boys and girls know that being on the varsity team is something they aspire to be a part of in the future. Another ball girl said, “They’re good as a team and have super good friendships. They show that when you play soccer, you’re going to have a really good time.”
Being so close to the players gives them the opportunity to experience the high intensity of a varsity game. However, their relationship extends beyond just watching the students play.
In the preseason, both the boys and girls varsity teams hold clinics for younger players to learn and develop new skills. Many of these kids end up being the ball boys and ball girls later in the season. Through these clinics, the kids have been able to meet their mentors and form connections .
The positive encounters the kids have with the players gives them to be excited about when they reach high school. “I want to be in charge of the camps when I’m older, too, because they’re so nice,” said another ball girl.
The early exposure to the sport gives younger athletes a firsthand look at what it means to be part of Westfield soccer, both on and off the field.
Amy Judka, a Westfield parent in charge of the ball boys program, said, “I always get texts from the parents asking if they can be a part of the ball boys.” Currently, the ball girl program is run by Lynne Kylish and Kate Reed, both of whom have children who play on the Westfield girls soccer team.
Westfield soccer views ball boys and girls as a major contributor to developing a strong athletic community. Their involvement helps create excitement around the program and build relationships across all grade levels.
As the soccer teams continue to compete at Kehler Stadium for years to come, the enthusiasm on the sidelines reminds high school players of their early love for the game of soccer.
