Kiddies Playing Football On Estate

[Kgrayz]

Just wondering if anyone will know who I can contact regarding my son and his friends playing football outside our home.

My little boy is 9 and his friends are 10 and 6 we live in an enclosed estate and they like to take their football goals outside and play football ..

they are to small to play over the local field .

Yesterday the police were called by one of our neigbours who often complain that the ball has rolled on this drive.

[ladybirder]

Here is New Judge's answer from May 2013.

"It's unlikely you'll be able to resolve this peacefully. Some children believe they have a God given right to behave as they wish with no respect or regard for other people or their property. They are often encouraged in this belief by their parents.

Playing ball games in the street is contrary to the Highways Act 1971. In some areas police have taken to issuing fixed penalties for the offence though many others cannot be bothered. Best consult your local "Safer Neigbourhood" team."

New Judge Sat 4 May 2013 under Law

[Kgrayz]

Isaac can play in the garden if he wants with neighbours children over or he can play out our front garden if he choses too to. when i originally asked whom I contact i was hoping to find out rules and regulations as to why some housing estates have signs up stating 'no ball games' which I now know after researching today.

so basically we could have a fine for letting our son play football on the street .. is this correct?

[Kgrayz]

i am absolutely baffled new judge that my 9 year old son is breaking the law by playing football getting exercise and fresh air outside his own home and that we could end up being fined because of this when there are so many criminals, vandals etc in the world what a sad sad sad world we live in.

[sherrardk]

Just stop them playing with a ball in the street.

[Kgrayz]

No Baldric that's not me sorry ur wrong there.

[Kgrayz]

i will stop my son tomoz for the day I cannot stop other children playing.

lets see what happens then.

[sherrardk]

Excellent plan.

[Psybbo]

I have no objections to children of that age enjoying themselves, lovely to see it and if the ball comes in our garden, they're welcome to climb over the wall and get it. What I am worried about is the groups of teenagers hanging out the back, drinking, swearing and trying to break down the fence.

[boxtops]

By stopping your own son playing football in the street, you will be keeping him (and yourselves as his parents) within the law. You're not responsible for the actions of the other youngsters you mention - but as has been stated, playing football in the street IS against the law. The amount of damage I've experienced over the years from youngsters playing football, damage to plants, entering my garden without permission, etc., I can't turn a blind eye to it, it's a pain in the butt. Many youngsters these days don't seem to consider other people at all, the other people in your street have a right not to have footballs and other toys or games going onto their land. You are in the wrong on this one, whether you like it or not.

[ummmm]

For what it's worth I don't think you sound arrogant at all, Kgrayz.

I think 'some' people who take issue with something quite minor can exaggerate things in there head over time meaning even smaller things rile them next time...

[ummmm]

*their

[Kgrayz]

Aww thank u psybbo and ummmmm..

x

it sure is a strange world we live in .

[boxtops]

I don't think it's strange, it's the same as when we were little - we played in our own garden, my parents wouldn't have countenanced us playing in the street - courtesy to neighbours was a given.

[tamborine]

Not fair that your son misses footies with his mates. Give them 2hrs of your day & take them where they can all play.

[dunnitall]

I agree boxtops it was the same for us, we weren't allowed to annoy the neighbours and their children didn't annoy our parents, simple respect I feel.

[ummmm]

I can't remember ever playing in our garden. It was home from school, a quick change of clothes and out the door until we were called in.

I realise how often I was out when people my age talk about TV programmes. I didn't watch TV because I was busy playing out...

[New Judge]

There is no need for bafflement, Kgrayz. Buenchico yesterday and shoota today provided an extract from the relevant law and it is in straightforward language.

One of the things I left out of my earlier post is that the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10. Children under that age are not considered capable of having the capacity to break the law. Nonetheless the police still have a duty to uphold the law even if it being broken by a minor. I do not believe there is any facility to hold parents responsible for the transgressions of their children and certainly not to transfer fines to them (which is sometimes a pity). However the police will take an interest when the law is being broken and it really cannot be much fun having the police knocking on your door to address a matter which can so easily be resolved.

If nothing else apart from clarifying the law, the answers you have received to your question may have demonstrated that not everyone is entirely with you on this issue. Nobody really knows the true level of nuisance the children are creating. But in any case there is no doubt that some people find the playing of ball games near to their homes extremely annoying and often stressful. That’s probably one of the reasons why the clause about playing in the street is included in the Highways Act.

[joko]

i expect if this person felt you were actually at least trying to stop your kids annoying them they may not feel so aggrieved.
we were very careful as we knew they would tell our parents and our parents would punish us

one of them was very spiteful though, i always remember him telling my dad he had seen me pick all the moss out from between the bricks in his wall and leave the bits on the floor - i hadnt at all and i remember his face looking at me as my dad slapped the back of my legs for it. he had obviously done it himself as there were no other children in the street. small road, 9 houses, and a dead end.

my dad hated this man and a knew he was just a bitter nasty weirdo but he slapped my legs to kind of placate him i think - to make him satified.

now im not suggesting you smack your kids legs etc - but if you were to show that you are willing to instill in your kids the need to shpw more consideration to them then they may be 'placated'

i am sure in general your kids are not bad kids - but kids by their nature are often pretty careless and thoughtless and dont realise that their actions can be upsetting ...

perhaps you should go to see this person, with the kids, and calmly talk about the issue - dont go in all guns blazing, accusing and trying to defend it - just accept that whatver the rights and wrong and leagalities of it, this person is upset and you would rather they werent if you dont want this to drag on

maybe the kids hearing all this and realiing the real trouble, may make then try a bit harder not to let the ball 'roll' into the garden etc

you could even ask the person if theyd be happy for your kids to put some sort of barrier when they play - buy a cheap kids goal and put it across their gateway to catch the ball. bot sure how thatd work, but might be worth considering it - as i say, showing willing to help them may just be all they wanted...

[ojread2]

I have absolutely nothing against kids playing outside making noise, but I do have a problem with them kicking balls and causing damage
Don't tell me they don't either