AIBU to ask these children to stop playing football?

[ActualAl]

I went out today to ask the 10 children (3 of whom live in nearby houses) to stop playing football in the communal carpark outside my house which is shared between 5 houses. This isn't the first time they've played there and although cars have never been dented the ball ( a light leather one I think, not plastic) has often bounced off the cars. Today, After watching for a while while I was gardening and seeing my car being hit at least 3 times, I went over and asked them to play elsewhere. There is a large football park with goalposts just around the corner. They then moved away but a dad who lives a few doors down (and doesn't use that carpark was passing and I mentioned to him what I'd said because I thought his child was there. Turns out his child wasn't but he made a point of saying I was being very harsh asking them to move, it was a light ball in his opinion and the children were too small to do any damage ( they were around 8 years old) I disagreed and said that the ball could scratch cars and anway it was private property because the spaces were in our house deeds. To which he replied whatever but he stii thinks it's harsh. I later saw him talking to the parents of one of the other children and pointing to my house. I'm now worried that everyone around will think I'm an ogre and I didn't really want to cause hassle! Was IBU?

[lljkk]

Are they really old enough to go around the corner? Do none of the houses around your way have gardens?

(inclined to think yadnbu, but am trying to see it from other side).

[squeakytoy]

A car park is not suitable for ball games. YADNBU.

[triskaidekaphile]

I think you're being harsh too, unless there has been actual damage done. We have a mini football pitch just round the corner but the kids love to play football just outside their houses. (The football pitch is on a slope, which prob doesn't add to its popularity!) They're a bit noisy but I don't mind really, before 9pm or so. I like that children can play out on the estate.

[ActualAl]

They do all have gardens but not as big as a carpark. Sometimes a dad goes out to play in the car park with them which although I don't particularly like but at least he keeps an eye on them to make sure they don't kick too hard. Today though there was no supervision and it seemed like all the children from round the neighbouring houses were there and some of the older boys can kick quite hard. I really don't want to be a killjoy and I also would hate to fall out with neighbours I get on quite well with. I was going to speak to the parents of the 3 children who live two doors up from me and across the road but after that dads reaction I'm worried they'll think I'm BU too!

[GypsyMoth]

I'm struggling to imagine how a round soft leather ball could 'scratch' a car?!

[triskaidekaphile]

I think they will think you are being unreasonable and you may well not be met with understanding. There is clearly a culture of playing out that has been ongoing for some time and is endorsed by their parents to the extent that one or two even play out with them. You will not be popular if you challenge this so think very carefully about whether it is such a big deal. If it is a big deal then obviously you must raise it but don't expect anyone to like it!

[GypsyMoth]

Maybe you should have gone over and cleaned our your car it something, kids don't tend to stick around when there's an adult there doing adult things!

[ActualAl]

Thanks for the advice. I really dislike confrontation, even with 8 year olds!! I think I'll just leave it as it is at the moment and see if they continue to play football there but if I see them bumping the cars again I'll do the same and politely ask them to move on. It sounds awful to say so I apologise now but I hope the cold rainy autumn weather puts them off so I don't have that problem!

[freelancescientist]

We have a very similar situation but with football games in the actual street. When we moved in the kids were 8 but now they are gobby 16 year olds and they really can do damage even with a 'light' football. There are better places to play football for all concerned.