‘No Ball Games’ advice
‘No ball games’ signs may discourage some
games, but they are a polite request, rather than
something that can be enforced through
a byelaw.
Contact Us
If you would like more advice on dealing
with ball game issues, please contact our
Community Safety team:
To contact your local team members,
please use the number relevant to the
area you live:
Basingstoke & Deane
01256 845 245
Hart
01252 774 476
Rushmoor
01252 398 220
Email
CommunitySafetyTeam@
communitysafetynh.org
Web
www.safernh.co.uk
Twitter
@SaferNorthHants
Ball Games
Advice
Ball games advice
Ball games are fun for those playing them but
can be a nuisance for other people. By following
our advice, though, there can be winners on
all sides.
Grassed areas
Small grassed areas are probably ok for
younger children who need to be closer to
home so their mums and dads can keep an
eye on them. If you’re a bit older, how about
going where there’s more space?
There may be ‘No ball game’ or ‘Considerate
use’ signs in your local area - if so, could you
play somewhere else?
Talk to your neighbours
Talking to your neighbours will help – if you
can agree a time and place for your games,
you’ll keep everyone happy
If you want to play ball games
The best place to play
Not everyone will enjoy your game as much
as you, so if you’re going to play an organised
or team game, why not go to your local park?
Playing in the street
If you’re playing in the street, you could
use a soft ball to avoid any damage to your
neighbours’ fences, gardens or cars
Try to play outside your house not anybody
else’s and if you need to retrieve your ball,
don’t forget to ask first
You’re having fun, but you might be being
too noisy for others – so try to being
considerate of them and make sure they
won’t be offended by your language
Don’t forget about your own safety and that
of other road users
Advice for your parents
We’d advise your mum and dad to make sure
they know where you’re playing and that it
won’t disturb other residents
If you’re having problems
with ball games in your area
We understand that ball games can disturb
people’s peace and quiet but by law, they
aren’t classed as antisocial behaviour.
We see the issue of ball games as very much
a social one. Open space is there for everyone
to enjoy and generally, any problems with ball
games are best solved locally.
What you can do to tackle ball game
problems
• Often the best thing is to talk to your
neighbours and explain that the ball games
are causing you some problems
• You could try to agree a time and place
when it would be ok to play ball games
• If you need advice, contact our Community
Safety team
Things to consider
• Parents and guardians may want their
children playing in their local neighbourhood
where they can keep an eye on them
• There may be only one grassed area for
children to play safely close to home
• Sometimes it’s better for young people to be
using their energy to play sport rather than
doing other things
• If you’re living in a built-up area, it’s only
natural to hear children playing after school
and at weekends
• It’s perfectly legal to play football on grass
verges or open spaces