Football against fence?

[Haahoooo]

We have new(ish) neighbours behind us and late last summer, and now this spring, there's been a lot of football going on in their garden. I think their DS is about 8 or so.

Balls regularly come over the fence and we throw them back. That's fine. But the little boy also likes the play football against our and other fences which makes a lot of noise and the whole fence shakes.

What would you do in this scenario? I'm worried it's going to be annoying all summer, but at the same time we have DD 18 months and DS due soon and goodness knows what noise they might make in the future.

So should we leave it, or ask the neighbours (politely) to ask their son not to play against the fence?

[WorraLiberty]

Ask them politely because eventually, it's going to cause some damage.

Make sure it's definitely your fence though

[susiedaisy]

It's a tricky one because IMO am 8 year old is better off in the confines of their own garden. My dc are older now and I send them to the park to play. Is he using your fence as the goal or do they have a set of goal posts?

[BackforGood]

I think it's part and parcel of living n a community and having families living around you, tbh, unless it is very early in the morning or very late at night.

[goldenlula]

My ds1 plays football in our garden and it hits the fence, we remind him to be careful and have got him a goal to help reduce it, but it us our fence so ultimately it will cost us when it needs to be replaced.

[Waltonswatcher1]

It's going to damage the fence . That's the issue not the noise . Kids play , try to enjoy the noise they make as its usually a happy noise!

[specialsubject]

there is reasonable kid playing and noise, and there is doing something that will cause damage.

so yes to playing and football, but no to kicking it repeatedly against a fence. Especially not your fence.

[Haahoooo]

Thanks all. Damage would be their responsibility so no case on that basis at all. So it's all about the noise... Maybe best to wait and see for a bit.

[LadyInDisguise]

We've had that too except it was our dcs and our (very wobbly) fence.
In essence yes I agree it's annoying and not good for the fence.
But I have always struggle to enforce the 'no lvayong against the fence' even if there was 2 of them so they could play together (even harder when it's just one and it's the only way to play football).

So no answer there. Have a word with your neighbors but maybe don't expect complete compliance.

And YY to the fact that your own dcs might be just as noisy!

[MidniteScribbler]

Could you look for a cheap football net (ebay, freecycle?) and take it over to him as a gift and ask if he could use it?

I know you shouldn't have to, but the old 'you catch more flies with honey' really is true.

[Haahoooo]

Thanks all, some good tips here. I really don't want to upset anyone and am very conscious of the fact that our DC are probably only moments away from developing annoying outdoor play habits