Laser-focused ball crew kids keep game running at Calgary tennis tournament

Calgary is hosting the National Bank Challenger, a men's pro tennis competition, all this week.

The tournament features 80 competitors in its singles and doubles draw, including rising tennis stars, from six continents.

While most eyes have been on the professional athletes competing on the court, like Canadian Vasek Pospisil, there is another highly focused operation happening on the sidelines that's worth watching.

Ball kids, as they call themselves, keep their laser focus on the game, but for a different reason than the athletes — they need to collect the tennis balls flying at high speeds across the courts.

• WATCH how the ball crew at the National Bank Challenger tennis tournament launches into action as soon as the ball is no longer in play, in the video above.

"A ball kid runs after lots of balls and passes it on to different ball kids and gives towels to the players," said Eva Lukyanova, a ball crew member at the Calgary Challenger.

Two net kids, two towel kids and two back kids surround the court.

Some of the rules is always be focused, never wander away- Eva Lukyanova

Clad in athletic gear, their main goal is to keep the game running smoothly for the athletes.

"Some of the rules is always be focused, never wander away," she said.

The role is no joke, and some of these kids have aspirations to go on to play competitive tennis, says Danny Da Costa with the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre. He is also the tournament director.

"We have a great group of kids," he said. "Most of the kids this week are high performance kids from our tennis centre."

He says many former ball kids went on to be professional tennis players, including Swiss 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer.

"My favourite part is being very close to the action and the players. It's an amazing experience," said Lukyanova.

The Calgary Challenger tournament finals take place at the Alberta Tennis Centre this Sunday.