Little Kids in the neighborhood playing on my basketball goal

[black kid in a yellow shirt mouthing something and "THAT'S RACIST" in thick black letters underneath him GIF]

 

Funny how you just became the uncool old guy at only 30.

Something similar happened to me about 6 months ago. I had about 10 kids skating in my driveway on a regular basis. I finally had to ask them to stop, they'd leave ramps, coke cans stuff like that.

So then they started ringing the bell/knocking and running. I told my girl, I can't believe I'm the old guy now.

So anyway, I saw them outside, so I grabbed my skateboard and went outside. Most of them scattered but I got a couple of the older ones and talked to them about their boards. I then told them I wasn't mad but the knocking on my door had to end because I had a sleeping baby. So they were cool and listened, never had another problem.

So just talk to them old uncool guy!

 

you should ask them if they would like to come down to your basement for popsicles.

 

Why don't you do a generous thing and build a basketball court nearby?

 

Instead of a lock, fit a smaller similar colored ring inside of the rim so that no shot falls in.

 

You should definitely notify their parents as to avoid any future confusion or arguments.

Also, maybe you should set a time limit on the kids for playing ball on your hoop. Something from 1 hour to 2 hours--maybe even until you just kick them off yourself. Afterwards, you can have the court to yourself. If you explain to them that you want to play with the regulation size hoop and that it's your property, I'm sure the kids will understand. You don't have to be a buzzkill about it, either. Maybe you could organize a game and wait for a team to win. That way the game will act as an appropriate closer, and the kids might be more willing to go home afterwards.

Since they're young, and you're a relatively young adult that has been doing them a favor, I figure they'll be more likely to listen to you anyway.

 

Raise the rim as high as it goes, and keep it that way...

 

I think this is definitely the best way to go. Wait until you're gone for a few days, put it on, and they'll get the idea. Or just put it on, and don't go out or answer the door for a while.

Pugs

 

Fix it now or it's open season on your crib come the summertime buddy!!

 

8 year olds, dude.

 

Tell them you made some new games that are more fun than basketball. They're called mow the lawn, rake the leaves and pick the weeds.

 

Just mow 'em down

 

Damn I used to be one of those kids back in middle school. We wouldn't exactly play on other people's goals since I had one and like 10 other people had it on my street. But we would wreck other people's landscape running around like idiots and once even broke my neighbor's fence. They were nice though, cus all I had to do was apologize and my parents didn't have to pay them anything (which if they did, I would've gotten beat), and I even got some cookies from them!

I like the idea stated by another poster above about the $1. How about $1 from every kid on the losing team? Or $1 from every loser if you're playing 21.

 

I think it comes down to whether you want to piss off their parents or not, afterall they are you're neighbors, so it may come back to bite you in the ass...

I'd talk to their parents...explain that you're not upset and understand why they do it, but for obvious reasons (age difference, liability, annoyance) it's not good to leave it as is. If you're cool with giving them limited playing time, just arrange a time and day for them to use it. maybe an hour once or twice a week, something like that. Let their parents know. If you don't want them using it at all, then perhaps all the parents should pitch in and get a goal for the kids on that street. Craigslist often has them for sale for as low as $30-50 bucks, sometimes they even have them in the "free" section, so all they'd need is to pick it up.

Like this:

http://houston.craigslist.org/spo/2194146608.html

 

shock the bastards
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BBcasl2b0Ug" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Hire someone. I heard this guy may need a new job.

 

or hire J. Walter Weatherman to teach them a lesson