NDN complained about ball bouncing

[Bonkersblond]

DS15 Birthday today received a much wanted Basketball hoop, DH spent the morning building it, DS enjoyed using it for 45 mins, probably some novelty factor here, anyway NDN turns up at door visibly upset and says she can’t cope with the ball bouncing, we are detached house with garages in between. Of course we immediately asked DS to stop and he has since gone out with friends. Since NDN coming round we have discussed moving hoop to end of garden, DH will put a base down. AIBU in letting DS use his hoop in short bursts of 10/15 mins until this happens, he will be so disappointed if he can’t use today of all days since he’s only just got it. I was feeling really pleased that he’s getting into more sport and encouraging him rather than nagging him to get off his Computer and phone. Feeling a bit miffed and not sure who is being unreasonable here so would like some advice.

I’m sure I will be the only one but this sounds like a nightmare

Awful to instal that at home. You might not mind the noise but I can see it driving neighbors bonkers.

Bouncing balls are really annoying but it’s his/your garden let him play in short burst. But as it’s on short periods she doesn’t get to tell you what you can do in your garden.

Bloody hell, it’s not like you’re doing it at 2am or he’s kicking a ball against her front door. You are allowed to make reasonable noise during the day. Let him use the basketball hoop, if she complains to the council they’ll tell her she’s being ridiculous.

What next? No talking in the garden?

She lives next to a family. I’d struggle to accommodate to be honest.

That would drive me mad.

Is this the first time your NDN has complained about noise (or other behaviour)? If it's an isolated incident, I would assume it's genuinely disturbing her and you should seek to limit the noise or agree times when it's acceptable, say, when your neighbours are out.

Kids playing ball sports in their own garden is a normal and expected part of life with near neighbours. If your neighbour can't cope with it she needs to move somewhere remote, away from other people.

I had a neighbour tell me we couldn't have barbecues in our garden because she didn't like the smell. Sorry, tough titty.

I think she is BU.
It’s daytime, it’s a perfectly harmless ball sport. Unless there’s something else eg loud music, swearing etc I don’t see that it’s anything that one should actually get upset about. Clearly it does annoy her but it was 45 minutes not 4.5 hours so I think you are being extremely reasonable in response to an unreasonable complaint.

That would make me want to cut off my ears. Why is he bouncing it though? Why not just ask him to shoot hoops and put the hoop over grass. He still plays. No annoying noise.

It might be annoying but you can't stop someone using a ball in their own garden during the day...

Some people just have no patience or tolerance of other people. A child playing with a ball for short bursts of time is no different to someone cutting their grass, hoovering, having a washing machine on an adjoining wall, playing music - they all make noise for a short time and then stop. We can't go round living silent lives for fear of interfering with others. Yes, if the basketball was played with from morning till night it wouldn't be fair, but that's not the case. If the child was throwing the ball off a shared wall then I can see why someone would complain, but they're not. Some people need to get a life so they're not complaining about stupid pointless things.
Hope your son enjoys his new hoop OP!

People like that need to live in a cabin in the woods.

Your neighbour is being unreasonable. Yes, ball-bouncing is seriously annoying but it's not unreasonable.

If you can place it as far away from her as possible, and make sure he only plays at 'normal' times (and it's not all day every day), then I think you have done as much as you can.

Once the novelty wears off, he won't be out there for more than an hour or so.

Your neighbour is being totally ridiculous, she honestly doesn't have a leg to stand on. It's not as if your DS is going to be playing outside 24/7, she should just put the radio on if the noise is annoying her.

Wow, neighbour wouldn't last long in America. They are being completely UR. No wonder kids are getting fatter. Can't even bloody bounce a ball on their drive!

She can’t stop you using it, but it must be as irritating as bedamned. And tbh, farting round with a hoop in the back garden is not “getting into sport”

Some people just have no patience or tolerance of other people. A child playing with a ball for short bursts of time is no different to someone cutting their grass, hoovering, having a washing machine on an adjoining wall, playing music

The 'child' is 15 and was bouncing the ball for 45 mins. Not quite the same thing.

Better than my NDN kids’ bloody trampoline going SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK from 8am to 9pm all weekend 😡

Its normal daytime noise. She needs to be less of a lettuce.

Basketball dribbling on a hard surface? That would drive me up the wall. It is an extremely irritating, repetitive noise.

Can't he use the hoop without repeatedly bouncing the ball? Continual bouncing on a hard surface would annoy me, too.

Better than my NDN kids’ bloody trampoline going SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK from 8am to 9pm all weekend

I think i'd rate them about evens. Two really annoying sounds.

I think she's being a bit mean - aslong as he's not bouncing it all day. And actually I think kids want to practice bouncing it along and then shooting while moving or whatever (basket ball ignoramus !!) so standing and shooting from stationary not much fun.

We have a basket ball hoop in a park near us - kids walk along the street past my house bouncing ball on the way. One boy seems to stop outside my house every day fro about 5-10 mins bouncing theb all. I do find it slightly annoying, but i looked at the bigger picture - he's just a kid having fun doing something sporty - far better than staying copped up indoors or hanging around on the street corners smoking (which most of the kids round here prefer as a hobby).

Normal daytime noise. Tell her to get a grip, tbh and not to knock again over it. Shocked you told your kid on his birthday to stop playing with his present! 😯

If your son was bouncing it early in the morning or late at night or for hours on end your neighbour would have a point but if it’s at sociable hours for short bursts, really??

Ok, bouncy balls are a bit annoying. My own son loves basketball and the noise can get a little annoying but no way I would complain at a neighbours child playing with one. I’d just distract myself, watch some tv, play some music myself.