To be annoyed at kids playing football

We moved house once because of this, constant ringing of doorbell to get their ball back, we despaired, even the fathers joined in, so much shouting all the time. Even when it rained there was no let up.

My paents were lucky with me as I didn't like football and wanted a bike instead. I got more exercise riding the bike for miles and enjoyed it in goof weather.

Last night at 8.40 our lounge window was hit by a football!!!!! The lads across the street (13 & 16) must be allergic to daylight as they only come out at night.

We've had an issue with kids who are aged 8-12 whacking a football about and really annoying people in the flats by whacking the ball into their windows and htting their satellite dishes. One man in a downstairs flat was so fed up he took the ball. It seems to have stopped, also the darker nights and worse weather must be another factor.

RosiesMaw2

I absolutely lament the move away from “playing out” as we did when children.
Sadly the streets are rarely safe enough and parks and quiet areas have their own perceived dangers but if more kids “played out” and adults encouraged them and were around them, the world would be a healthier place.
A bit of ball bouncing is a small price too pay and instead of letting it cause anxiety should be viewed as perfectly normal kids having fun.

I agree

The OP had her car windows smashed by these kids - does no one “lament” that?!

Cossy

RosiesMaw2

I absolutely lament the move away from “playing out” as we did when children.
Sadly the streets are rarely safe enough and parks and quiet areas have their own perceived dangers but if more kids “played out” and adults encouraged them and were around them, the world would be a healthier place.
A bit of ball bouncing is a small price too pay and instead of letting it cause anxiety should be viewed as perfectly normal kids having fun.

I agree

100% too.

Normal kids don't wait until it's dark to start kicking footballs in the street!

I think the family across the road from us might be vampires as the kids only seem to appear after dark!

Football can be an excellent way for kids to stay active, but sometimes it can cause inconvenience to others, especially in residential areas. For those looking for alternatives to outdoor activities, i-gym.ae/ provides excellent indoor fitness solutions for all ages. This platform offers a variety of workout programs that help channel energy in a controlled environment. Whether you're a parent looking for safe options for your kids or someone seeking to avoid disruptions, it has something for everyone.

Reported.

There’s a vast difference between children playing nicely and children vindictively vandalising car windows, terrorising people’s pets and children breaking electric gates (which I know are extremely and surprisingly expensive to repair). It is not unreasonable to be unhappy with these scenarios. I am especially annoyed at ball games near parked cars as cars do get damaged and scratched by these activities. I was a child once and I was allowed and encouraged to “play out in the fresh air”. At that time, there used to be rules about consideration and respect for neighbours and their property and not going into their property and not playing or lingering outside other peoples houses, particularly older people and mothers with babies who need to not be disturbed, and not disturbing people at weekends and definitely not on Sundays and not screaming or shouting. If my Brother and I upset a neighbour we were sent round to apologise and put right any harm/damage which we may have accidentally caused. “Surprisingly” I have survived and can report that I had the most wonderful childhood and I miss my parents every day. I do not agree that children “need” to be allowed to become feral and be left unregulated to “let off steam”. This seems to be a catch all phrase for parents not taking responsibility and not teaching responsibility and consideration to their children, which is really all that is required.

Anniebach

It’s what children do and need to do

Agree.

Fleurpepper

Cossy

RosiesMaw2

I absolutely lament the move away from “playing out” as we did when children.
Sadly the streets are rarely safe enough and parks and quiet areas have their own perceived dangers but if more kids “played out” and adults encouraged them and were around them, the world would be a healthier place.
A bit of ball bouncing is a small price too pay and instead of letting it cause anxiety should be viewed as perfectly normal kids having fun.

I agree

100% too.

I’m another in agreement. Previous generations had much more freedom, largely because the roads weren’t so dangerous. We have a rather upmarket cul de sac where two families with primary school age children recently moved in. All the other houses are inhabited by older retired people. Three have taken to parking their cars on the road rather than in driveways. The aim is to stop the children riding bikes or playing ball games. Grumpy miserable old people

The relenyless banging of a ball on a hard surface (tarmac or wall) is really irritating

It's nearly winter, nights drawing in, and they'll be a year older next summer, maybe with better things to do

Touch wood, the kids who were booting the football around and annoying people are getting older and not as bothered about kicking a ball in the street. Two play for a team at weekends and the others seem more interested in seeing their friends on another estate. I think the ones in rented housing have received letters from their housing association after complaints from people in the flats.

YANBU. It seems chikdren now cannot survive without kicking a football, screz4ming instead of speaking and only moving on an electric scooter. Open space that has conditions must not be used for ball games or cycling surrounded by roads. Area is classed as SUDS area and owned by a woodland company. Area used almost daily for football with balls damaging planting, balls going on roads, hitting fencing and side of a house. The company twice erected notice boards stating no ball games or cycling but both times the boards were removed (found in nearby woodland). The residents who are not located immediately surrounding the area do not give a hoot about what goes on. children are out of their sight. All residents have to pay to have the area maintained currently £240 a year. It's an out of sight out of mind attitude these days.

A similar thing recently happened to myself , I was outraged to say the least. I do not think you're being unreasonable at all. If it happens again use this method as it's proven to be rather effective. I stepped outside of my home and approached the children, asked politely for the ball and they complied so I absolutely rocketed the ball off of my housing estate causing the children to return home. Hope this helped!

We moved house because of the constant football playing by children and adults outside our fence, on a very small area of grass, early mornings till late evening. We were constantly throwing balls back over, doorbell ringing if we missed one, even them climbing over the gate or fence to recover balls.
I agree children have to play but unless you’ve experienced the situation you’ve no idea.
Can you imagine your garden being a no go area, noise and shouting and not being able to plant nice flowers and shrubs because they get broken or damaged.

I lve in an ethnic area and most of the kids are well behaved. The parents are much stricter with their children and a threat to go and speak to their parents will usually move them on.

I would slightly worry about the cars getting damaged, but it is good that the chidlren are out there getting exercise and socialising.

We are in a close with a central garage area, and eventually had to ban kids from playing football there. Quite apart from the endless banging noise (balls against garage doors) and damage to cars, they would frequently climb on to garage roofs to retrieve balls, which was a) not safe, and b) would damage roofs, which are very expensive to repair.

We used to live in a house with a wide communal green in front. Huge notice in the middle ‘ No Ball Games’. Nobody took any notice

I agree children should be able to play out, but when they become a nuisance it is another story. Car parks are not for playing football as cars could get damaged. Constantly kicking a ball against a wall is irritating. I don't think kids playing should come before people's peace of mind.
I live next door to three little girls, they are loud and argumentative with each other. Absolutly no problem, kids being kids. They a lovely and the parents stop any screaming.
I do however think that people who post, what's a bit if noise. I wonder if they are in detached houses and the noise does not affect them, however people living in small properties should not have the annoyance of constant football banging up their walls or bikes left strewn all over the place that they have to move.
Parents need to parent and stop their kids bring a nuisance to others.