I'm in a battle at the moment with football obsessed DS- he's 11 (and a half if that makes any difference).
Obviously there's a no football in the house rule but the child can't pass anything on the floor with out kicking it. The garden isn't huge but if he plays there that drives me mad Too and we always argue about it. The ball hits the window, bushes, plants, shed, fences, constantly goes into neighbours gardens etc. Things are damaged and the grass ruined.
He is on a football teams and plays Saturdays and Sundays- he now wants to go to the park by himself (if he can't play in the garden) and I'm currently saying no.
The local kids on our road are either a few years older or younger than him so he has no one that is allowed/wants to go with him, I'd probably say yes if there were.
In an ideal world I'd take him to the park for a few hours but I work from home and he wants to play everyday after school! If I let him he'd go by himself and see if there's anyone there that wants to play- which is usually what happens when I take him anyway, nothing sinister!
He walks to and from school by himself now and is fairly sensible, has a phone too. I'm starting to trust him but AIBU to not let him go? For my sanity I'm thinking it's a good idea so I don't have to hear that flipping ball bounce off my kitchen window again but part of me thinks he's still too young!