Kids playing football in the street/cars

notanewuser

We live in a cul de sac on an "open plan" estate.

There is a young lad living opposite us who is about 7 years old. He has a condition that means he could become seriously ill if he overdoes it with exercise. He loves football, so his mum and dad have had a goal on their front lawn for a while now, so that he can have a kick about etc.

In the last few months its become a magnet for other young lads on the estate. It's now at the point where they arrive every day (after school or in the morning on weekends and school holidays). As the number of lads has grown to about 6 or 7, they've "spread" into the road (we live at the end which is the widest point).

As a result, the ball is getting bounced off cars parked in the road and on the driveways. I only got one of mine back yesterday after a £1000 respray, so obviously it makes me anxious that they're playing football within a few feet. The ball often rolls across other front gardens and bounces off the houses' walls too. And then the kids run after it.

While I'm thrilled that they're active/not stuck indoors etc, I'm unhappy about the damage to vehicles, lawns, flower beds etc. there's a big green a couple of hundred yards away that they could play on without these risks, but due to the little boy's condition, I'm sure his parents won't want him out of sight, just in case.

So how do I approach this?!

Person_one

Try to relax?

Get a cheaper car?

Move to a busy road where children can't play out?

Treevo

Speak to the parents who have the goal on their front lawn (like savages!). Yes, it's awful that their son has this condition, but it doesn't give them carte blanche to ignore all the problems that their choices (to put a goal in the street essentially) are negatively affecting other people.

balletshoes

if it was really bothering me, I'd tell the kids to try and be careful. They are old enough at 6 and 7 to understand.

notanewuser

Person_one wrote: »

Try to relax?

Get a cheaper car?

Move to a busy road where children can't play out?

2 of those aren't options, I'm afraid.

Car will go back into the garage as soon as I can get it cleared. Not sure why I should have to though.

Would you feel differently if they were firing air pistols at cats?

notanewuser

balletshoes wrote: »

if it was really bothering me, I'd tell the kids to try and be careful. They are old enough at 6 and 7 to understand.

Tried that.....

balletshoes

notanewuser wrote: »

Tried that.....

what happened?

Person_one

notanewuser wrote: »

Would you feel differently if they were firing air pistols at cats?

Yes, because that would be very different.

Are they?

notanewuser

balletshoes wrote: »

what happened?

They played more calmly for a day or so, then went back to their current style again. I asked them again to be careful a few days later, same thing happened. Repeated 4-5 times and then got fed up of it.

Rottensocks

notanewuser wrote: »

I'm unhappy about the damage to vehicles, lawns, flower beds etc.

What damage has been done?

And would the damage be lessened if the position of the goal frame was altered? i.e. to face in another direction?

notanewuser

Person_one wrote: »

Yes, because that would be very different.

Are they?

How is it different?

(Not yet, but give them time......).