Kids football coming onto driveway

MrsSBG

I am having issues with kids from all over my estate and from other estates playing soccer in a small patch of grass right in front of my house despite there being a MASSIVE green area to the left that is away from any houses. The ball is CONSTANTLY coming in, I mean in a space of 40 minutes last night it came in 4 times. Its hitting my car, windows etc and is only a matter of time before they break something. These kids are anywhere from 7 to 13. I only know one kid (neighbours kid) who we've had limited, polite conversation with, I believe they are the ones who put the soccer posts up. My issue is if one of them damages my car, breaks a window etc who will pay for it? I am 6 months with my first baby and I am at my wits end with terrible anxiety over this, we cannot afford repairs with a baby coming. After weeks of politely asking the kids to be more careful, move the posts away from our house my husband gave out to them Friday. The neighbour came belting the door down saying they are only kids, its only a ball etc etc. The kids did temporarily move the posts to the opposite side of the green but its now migrated back in front of our house and is coming in again. Another issue is these random kids are coming onto my driveway to retrieve the ball, I don't like people on my property plus if they hurt themselves I am liable. This could all be resolved if they just move the post away from our house or to the large green. The kids are now making me feel very uncomfortable in my own home especially when I am there alone, staring at me when I pull up to my driveway and generally being intimidating. I don't know what to do, I am losing sleep over this. Any ideas welcome.

tupenny

Is there actual goal post or are they using your pillars?
Can u make it less attractive for them? Park car where they use as part of their "pitch"?
I'm sorry you're having this issue, esp if you've tried reason with them? Most kids will understand.. I was 1 of those annoying kids playing soccer on the road but once some1 explained their prob we'd move on to the pillars of 1 of our parents houses.
Off topic!! But nice to know kids are playing ball outside and not via fifa

Yawns

The kids just won't understand your anxiety and will say, sure we're only playing. It's natural for them. The only way to prevent it would be to park the car blocking them as suggested. There's prob a reason they play there rather than on the green. When I was growing up doing the exact same thing, it was because the green was always littered with broken glass, rubbish and burnt marks from robbed cars etc.

tupenny

Apologies , reread post and seems nothing is focused towards your house. Doubt there's much you can do, only kids playing on a grassy area. Reason with them is your only hope I'd say.
I broke a window of a neighbours years ago, And my parents paid for it.. not sure if they were legally responsible and just not ****heads

MrsSBG

Yawns wrote: »

The kids just won't understand your anxiety and will say, sure we're only playing. It's natural for them. The only way to prevent it would be to park the car blocking them as suggested. There's prob a reason they play there rather than on the green. When I was growing up doing the exact same thing, it was because the green was always littered with broken glass, rubbish and burnt marks from robbed cars etc.

Hi Yawns, thanks for the reply. They are playing on a small green area that's right in front of my house and our driveway is quiet long as the car parked sideways wont block all of it. The other green is perfect, kept cut by the council and no rubbish etc, its a good estate.

MrsSBG

tupenny wrote: »

Apologies , reread post and seems nothing is focused towards your house. Doubt there's much you can do, only kids playing on a grassy area. Reason with them is your only hope I'd say.
I broke a window of a neighbours years ago, And my parents paid for it.. not sure if they were legally responsible and just not ****heads

Hey Tupenny,

Thanks for the reply. Its actual goalposts that my next door neighbour bought and put there. I know the parents of one child, all the others are from all over the estate and some from other estates so I don't know their parents or where they live. So if my car is damaged or a window broken I will have no idea who to go to about paying for it to be fixed. Plus at times there is approx. 15 kids so I would have no idea for sure which actually kicked the ball

Allinall

OP, bribery works wonders with kids, and you'll get a lot of respect off them.

It doesn't take much.

Explain in simple terms your anxiety, and offer to buy them a new football , or a once off case of minerals etc.

It should be enough.

professore

MrsSBG wrote: »

Hey Tupenny,

Thanks for the reply. Its actual goalposts that my next door neighbour bought and put there. I know the parents of one child, all the others are from all over the estate and some from other estates so I don't know their parents or where they live. So if my car is damaged or a window broken I will have no idea who to go to about paying for it to be fixed. Plus at times there is approx. 15 kids so I would have no idea for sure which actually kicked the ball

So your next door neighbour bought goalposts and put them in front of your house? Nice. You need to talk to him / her first.

professore

professore wrote: »

So your next door neighbour bought goalposts and put them in front of your house? Nice. You need to talk to him/her first.

Agreed.

MrsSBG wrote: »

After weeks of politely asking the kids to be more careful, move the posts away from our house my husband gave out to them Friday. The neighbour came belting the door down saying they are only kids, its only a ball etc etc.

The kids aren't your problem, is this the same neighbour who bought the goalposts??

Rubberchikken

Is the neighbour who bought the posts the same one who called? I'd be having a chat with him.
Why choose outside your drive? Why call to your house and speak in a confrontational way instead of trying to see your point of view?

Bullies come in all shapes sizes and ages and his behaviour is bordering on questionable.

LirW

Can you actually reason with these kids?
On my street there live a few kids all between 7 and 10 and they are out and about the whole afternoon, including my own son. All these kids are very polite and the parents taught them on how to behave. They sometimes play Tip the can with the lamp post right in front of my house and because of that are sometimes running around in my front garden. If they are getting a bit to wild, a word is enough and they'll stop. If you talk to them in a nice way and maybe tell them that you or the baby needs a lot of sleep and the playing wakes you they're usually going to understand. Maybe have a short word with the neighbors too and explain your situation. If they are not complete bollixes it'll help.

Gatling

Please don't take this wrong ,but have you spoken to your gp about your anxiety , worrying about essentially what could happen if a ball hits a car or house especially when pregnant could leave you with high blood pressure ,( put you first)
Essentially your dealing with kids they aren't picking on or targeting you they are playing ball and not causing any problems in there mind ,
Try asking them not to let the ball come into especially as your pregnant and it's stressful for you the older kids might have a bit of cop on and move on ,

Apologies might have read Wrong are you pregnant or do you have a 6 month old

H3llR4iser

Quick question OP - would the "big patch of grass" be closer to the family providing and installing the goalposts than the place they're playing on right now is? If that's the case, these goalposts will keep reappearing near your property...

LionelNashe

I wouldn't under any circumstances try to tell the kids to leave, or reason with them, or anything. Kids can be f*ckers. If they see you in a certain light you'll be running a gauntlet of insults and sniggers every time you go in or out of the house, your doorbell being rang with nobody there, and even stones being thrown at your house. Once that begins, it might never stop. You'll be nostalgic for the days when a football going into the garden was your only problem.

LirW

Honestly, this can go either way. OP stated she lives in a nice estate. Therefore I assume it's reasonably quiet and that also because the kids were taught some manners. You can reason with children like that and they'd usually understand, especially in that age range.
If the whole lot of kids is full of sh1te then the place might not be so grand after all.

XsApollo

Don't let them see you are getting annoyed by them, don't let your husband go giving out to them and honestly just ignore them.

Otherwise you could be dealing with them for a long long time.
You will be the go to house for a bit of fun in the evenings when they are bored.

Make friends with them quick :-)
If you or your husband is in garden or see the ball the next time it comes in go out and hand them the ball back and make a joke or run over and dribble the ball into the net.

Might sound dramatic but your child could suffer later on when they are older if the group get a set on you.

painauchocolat

Don't forget that it will soon be cold, wet and dark. They'll all be indoors most evenings within a month. By the time next summer rolls around, they'll all be a year older and friendship groups might have moved on /interests changed. I appreciate that it's driving you mad now, but it will settle down quite soon.

the_syco

MrsSBG wrote: »

Its actual goalposts that my next door neighbour bought and put there.

Maybe get your husband to put the goalposts in front of their house?

As said, don't make an enemy of the kids. Winter is coming, and once it gets dark, they'll be ringing your doorbell for the craic if you're the enemy.

tinkerbell

Another vote for getting your husband out to move the goal posts. Your neighbour is a cheeky git for putting posts outside your house - they know full well what they are doing.

Teyla Emmagan

I would go out ever night and drag them away.

Srsly though, have a chat with the neighbour. Unless they are a complete thick they won't object to you moving them.

MrsSBG

UPDATE: Tried talking to neighbors and they just got really rude and obnoxious, they are absolute dicks. I am at my wits end now and can't stop crying.

MrsSBG

Teyla Emmagan wrote: »

I would go out ever night and drag them away.

Srsly though, have a chat with the neighbour. Unless they are a complete thick they won't object to you moving them.

Tried talking to them tonight and they just got rude and abnoxious, just made things worse. They won't listen to reason

MrsSBG

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Quick question OP - would the "big patch of grass" be closer to the family providing and installing the goalposts than the place they're playing on right now is? If that's the case, these goalposts will keep reappearing near your property...

The larger green area is further away, the small green area is right in front of thier and my houses.

MrsSBG

Gatling wrote: »

Please don't take this wrong ,but have you spoken to your gp about your anxiety , worrying about essentially what could happen if a ball hits a car or house especially when pregnant could leave you with high blood pressure ,( put you first)
Essentially your dealing with kids they aren't picking on or targeting you they are playing ball and not causing any problems in there mind ,
Try asking them not to let the ball come into especially as your pregnant and it's stressful for you the older kids might have a bit of cop on and move on ,

Apologies might have read Wrong are you pregnant or do you have a 6 month old

Hi Gatling

Yes I am 6 months pregnant. I haven't spoken to my GP yet, but will do. I know my anxiety is 'over reacting' but I just hate tension like this, wreaks my head.

Well the neighbours know I'm pregnant and don't care! Charming! I've no idea what to do now :-(

irishmoss

MrsSBG wrote: »

The larger green area is further away, the small green area is right in front of thier and my houses.

Who owns the green area? Is it waste ground or owned by council?

MrsSBG

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Agreed.



The kids aren't your problem, is this the same neighbour who bought the goalposts??

Yep same neighbour. Tried to talk to them tonight calmly and politely and they just got obnoxious and rude! Was shocked!

MrsSBG

irishmoss wrote: »

Who owns the green area? Is it waste ground or owned by council?

It's the Councils

irishmoss

MrsSBG wrote: »

It's the Councils

Maybe ring them and ask for a no football sign? We have a small green area which is a square area with houses on one side only and there is no football allowed. I do think that amount of children too in a small area unreasonable. I wouldn't like that amount of noise outside my house either.

qrx

Do they leave the goal post out? It would be a shame if they were stolen during the night or something...

Dravokivich

I don't think the issue is entirely with where the kids are playing. Just the location of that goal being inline with the op's property. It seems unfortunate that the guy who got it is being unreasonable. You'll have to be too.

Autochange

Burst the ball. Problem solved

MrsSBG

irishmoss wrote: »

Maybe ring them and ask for a no football sign? We have a small green area which is a square area with houses on one side only and there is no football allowed. I do think that amount of children too in a small area unreasonable. I wouldn't like that amount of noise outside my house either.

Thanks Irishmoss, I will speak to the council. I think a no football sign would be perfect. The noise is def an issue too as we planned to have the nursery at the front room but worry now about the hollering and screaming waking her or keeping her awake.

Autochange

Autochange wrote: »

Burst the ball. Problem solved

Snap, was just about to post that. Keep it or burst it they won't be long going elsewhere.

If the neighbour comes over again tell him to f off.

Autochange

Payton Repulsive Schoolhouse wrote: »

Snap, was just about to post that. Keep it or burst it they won't be long going elsewhere.

If the neighbour comes over again tell him to f off.

I used to kick my football and hit the hurling ball into the neighbors by accident years ago. Used knock on the door and she would give them back. Eventually she got pissed off with this and started to give them to her dog. I stopped playing near her garden after that. Simple

NutmegGirl

Some people are just so unreasonable when it comes to their "precious" kids, and can't see any problem from the other side, really feel for you OP esp being pregnant, stress you could def do without
You shouldn't have to do this but is there an option of installing a tall fence so the ball can't come into your garden? And the kids can't come in after it if it did? If they can't get the ball back easily they might stop kicking it in that direction

MrsSBG

NutmegGirl wrote: »

Some people are just so unreasonable when it comes to their "precious" kids, and can't see any problem from the other side, really feel for you OP esp being pregnant, stress you could def do without
You shouldn't have to do this but is there an option of installing a tall fence so the ball can't come into your garden? And the kids can't come in after it if it did? If they can't get the ball back easily they might stop kicking it in that direction

I doubt we'd get planning to be honest as all the houses have the same 'open plan' driveway :-( I would love a wall or fence to be honest, would feel safer. Total pain :-(

MrsSBG

Dravokivich wrote: »

I don't think the issue is entirely with where the kids are playing. Just the location of that goal being inline with the op's property. It seems unfortunate that the guy who got it is being unreasonable. You'll have to be too.

Your spot on Dravokivich, I've no problem there playing on the green just that the goals are right in front of our driveway so the ball in constantly coming in.

Autochange

MrsSBG wrote: »

Your spot on Dravokivich, I've no problem there playing on the green just that the goals are right in front of our driveway so the ball in constantly coming in.

Can the goals be moved?

myshirt

If you go out guns blazing you just antagonise people. Even if you are right people's pride will not let them change their behaviour. Kids are rebellious aswell.

You are best off to try earn their respect and get on their side.

What I would do is have your husband go out and play a game with them. Afterwards, say lads I know you're just playing soccer, and I was the same when I was younger. Ye have good skills to be fair. Make a few jokes. Say problem is if you play here, you might hit cars or people's doors and you know those f#ckers in the council, soccer could end up being barred altogether. To be fair, I don't want your parents to have to be paying for car repairs or you getting in trouble because I know you're only getting a game of soccer. You're best off to play over on that green, you'll have more space to get on the end of a cross. Point to one of the kids and say that's his weakness there, he can't cope with a bullet header off the long ball.

Sell the idea.

I am 100% with you because it would drive me mad aswell, but you need to get on their side and get their respect, even though behind it all you'd like to get them a kick in the hole or chin their smart arse parents.

ThisRegard

MrsSBG wrote: »

I've no idea what to do now :-(

Easier said than done but maybe nothing? It's not malicious and the likelihood of anything being broke by and errand ball is minimal.

mezzz

ThisRegard wrote: »

Easier said than done but maybe nothing? It's not malicious and the likelihood of anything being broke by and errand ball is minimal.

Havv you tried closing the gates

surrender monkey

Had this problem years ago.... the kids quickly escalated to lashing the balls off my door, car and windows. They were kicking my door repeatedly and ringing the bells there were literal swarms of the feral feckers in my garden everyday. Guards were no use "sure it's only kids playing". Life was miserable so I did a bit of out of the box thinking. I requested the council to take the grass area off the grass cutting schedule due to the anti social behaviour of the little angels. The area went to meadow and ye couldn't kick a ball more than a few inches in it now. It's unsightly but the peace is amazing! Jobs oxo! Surrender monkey 1 feral feckers 0

P.s if it was me I would do a Paul Daniels on those goals and make em dissappear.... what are they made of op?

ThisRegard

mezzz wrote: »

Havv you tried closing the gates

It's not me, but the OP has no gates.

mezzz

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's not me, but the OP has no gates.

Exactly. You got it all in one

SEPT 23 1989

You are going. to become that neighbour

We all remember them as kids

Ride it out

brendane

OP, Did you grow up in a housing estate. This is part and parcel of living so close to neighbours and trying to control others behaviours or activities not on your property is never going to work.

I was one of those kids about 20 years ago and can see their point of view. They are simply playing football. I wouldn't think they are trying to intimidate you but probably know you are trying to stop them playing football. Kids playing football is a lot better than kids just hanging around with no interest in anything.

Also, some of your worry seems to be about damage to your property and if it's any consolation it's very doubtful that a 10 year old would cause any damage anyway and probably not break any windows.

The only thing that i would do in such a situation is to say to the lads when the ball comes in first is to be careful and throw them the ball back and then I'd hang around outside, maybe chat to a neighbour or on the phone or clean out the car. The kids will be more careful seeing you there and if it comes in again you can get a bit thick. They will either move elsewhere or adjust there game so not too interfere with you.

MrsSBG

Autochange wrote: »

Can the goals be moved?

Yes,that's all we want but the neighbours just get abusive when we try to speak to them, they are being totally unreasonable. Plus I am pretty sure some of the older kids from outside the estate are purposefully kicking the ball in so moving the goals will prob make no difference

MrsSBG

brendane wrote: »

OP, Did you grow up in a housing estate. This is part and parcel of living so close to neighbours and trying to control others behaviours or activities not on your property is never going to work.

I was one of those kids about 20 years ago and can see their point of view. They are simply playing football. I wouldn't think they are trying to intimidate you but probably know you are trying to stop them playing football. Kids playing football is a lot better than kids just hanging around with no interest in anything.

Also, some of your worry seems to be about damage to your property and if it's any consolation it's very doubtful that a 10 year old would cause any damage anyway and probably not break any windows.

The only thing that i would do in such a situation is to say to the lads when the ball comes in first is to be careful and throw them the ball back and then I'd hang around outside, maybe chat to a neighbour or on the phone or clean out the car. The kids will be more careful seeing you there and if it comes in again you can get a bit thick. They will either move elsewhere or adjust there game so not too interfere with you.

Hi Brendane,

I didn't grow up on an estate no, my husband did. I am not trying to stop them playing football, I've no problem with that. I Just want them to move the goalposts to the other side of the green to stop the ball coming in. Over the last few weeks we have gone out and asked them multiple times to be more careful, move the posts but get ignored. It escalated to my husband giving out to them and then the parents got involved

MrsSBG

surrender monkey wrote: »

Had this problem years ago.... the kids quickly escalated to lashing the balls off my door, car and windows. They were kicking my door repeatedly and ringing the bells there were literal swarms of the feral feckers in my garden everyday. Guards were no use "sure it's only kids playing". Life was miserable so I did a bit of out of the box thinking. I requested the council to take the grass area off the grass cutting schedule due to the anti social behaviour of the little angels. The area went to meadow and ye couldn't kick a ball more than a few inches in it now. It's unsightly but the peace is amazing! Jobs oxo! Surrender monkey 1 feral feckers 0

P.s if it was me I would do a Paul Daniels on those goals and make em dissappear.... what are they made of op?

The father (neighbour) mows the grass on the small green so unfortunately telling the council to stop mowing it will make no difference Im afraid, thanks anyway. The goals are just like hard plastic, very light.

twiddletwaddle

I can't advise you on whether or not you are allowed to put up a fixed gate on your driveway, perhaps some one else can, what about making a freestanding driveway fence.

Type, freestanding driveway fence, into google and search images, If you make it sturdy enough the ball should bounce off. Might be a bit of a pain to move in your current condition, perhaps it could have wheels underneath.

Maybe you might need a ground anchor point to secure it in place, to stop kids messing lifting it away.

Are the balls coming in at height or along the ground?

irishmoss

MrsSBG wrote: »

The father (neighbour) mows the grass on the small green so unfortunately telling the council to stop mowing it will make no difference Im afraid, thanks anyway. The goals are just like hard plastic, very light.

Where does the neighbour live and why does he cut the grass? Has he taken ownership of it?