I have 2 boys 9 and 11 yrs. They have been playing out, tag, footie,bike riding, ect. At least 4 days a week I have to go out and stop my neighbours from swearing at them, telling them to shut up and go home (there only excited in thier play ).I don't want them in all the time, think they should be able to play outside some times. How do I get my neighbours to let them be, when I have tried to explain,there just playing I have been met with verbal abuse. Finding it hard teaching my boys to have respect for people, when they get nothing but grief for being kids.

Well there are two sides to every coin kim, and sometimes other people's noise even if it's only kids having fun can be too much. Is there a local park that is near enough for them to go to if they stick together? If so that could defuse the aggro if they were able to play elsewhere sometimes.
Also, when they're playing football, is it in your garden or in the street? If so have there been instances of kids damaging property with balls etc? This could be down to history and people wanting to stop the same thing happening again.

Thanks for the reply.
I would understand the problem if they were in the street,but they play on a green, in the middle of the square, with a sign saying recreational ground. I'm not happy with them playing in the local park as it seems to have been taken over by big kids, and they keep getting their footballs kicked into the main road.

Well it is very different to if they were right outside people's houses. Hmmm. Have to think about it.
Have you tried visiting the people who complain and asking (as calmly as you possibly can ) what the problem is for them and is there anyway that you can rectify it while allowing your kids out? That might make them realise that you aren't out to make their lives a misery, and might make them stop and think. It could simply be a particular time of day that gives them problems, and there may be a way for your kids to play at times that don't affect them.
Or
If the piece of ground they play on is owned by the council maybe it would pay to get them involved and see if they could be an intermediate for you.
It sounds as if you're in an area where people's families have all grown up and left leaving these now older people who have forgotten what having children is all about.

if they are swearing at your kids and or yourself contact the police. they are not allowed to speak to anyone in that way.
i recently had to call the police here cos a bloke told my 10 year old son to f*** off, when i tried speaking to him he gave me a load of abuse. i rang the police simply to log it with them in case anything else happened but they were not impressed at all....said i could have him arrested and charged if i wanted as it was a public order offence to speak to anyone in that way. as it was the first time i didnt want to go through that so instead they wrote a letter to the council telling them they had had an anti-social behaviour complaint about him, he's now on warning from the council!!
we've not had bother off him since!

Thanks for the idea about the police, didnt know it was a offence! Will get the the boys to keep a record of any convos with the neighbours and pass the info on to the council. Thanks for your help Kim

no disrospect to old folk but when they have nothing to do i do think they can be rather picky and moan at the smallest of things such as kids being what they are kids having fun and enjoying themselfs aslong as your kids arn't really distrurbing people around your house e.g kicking ball against house walls and stuff like that there isn't really anything wrong.

I think a lot of the time they just forget what it is like to have kids around when their families have moved on.
But from the reaction kim got when she offered help with shopping etc I really think other agencies need to come in and stop this from becoming a big battle.

I have had the same problem with my neighbours,they used to come out and tell the kids to go away, they were not allowed to play on bikes,rollerblades,skateboard,bikes,or just be children,one even complaied my son used to walk passed her house on purpose,but as this was the only way off the street then it was difficult not to pass.One day the neighbour came out stole the ball and burst it in front of them and threatened them,i rang the police and they went round and gave them a warning, and suprise suprise we have had no more trouble.