Since the 1970s, signs saying "No Ball Games" have been a familiar sight on British streets. Ball games were synonymous with noise and broken windows. But now a London council is changing the signs to encourage young people to participate in sport. Half of young people don't do the recommended amount of physical activity per week and playing in the street can get them moving again.
London Sport, a charity campaigning to have 7000 signs removed in London alone, says the original signs discouraged more than half a million children from taking part in sport in their community.
In the London borough of Lambeth, the signs are being replaced with ones which say "MORE ball games at any time" and have a basketball hoop attached.
According to the More Ball Games campaign, "Over half of young Londoners don’t meet recommended activity levels, with lower-income communities disproportionately impacted by restricted access to sport, play and physical activity." Having a space to do sport without needing the expense of joining a club and purchasing special equipment can encourage many more young people to get active, says the charity.
Video
This short PSA video can work well even with young learners. It would be good to show it first with the sound off as the visual narrative is easy for pupils to understand and explain: they see "no ball games" signs and kids looking bored and fed up. Then a workman climbs a ladder and attaches a basketball hoop to the bottom of the sign and the kids start playing.
The voiceover isn't difficult from A2: "No ball games signs. They’ve been hanging over London since the 1970s. No hope. No freedom. No dreaming. Not any more."
This video would be a good addition to Shine Bright 6e File 6 We’re playing basketball and Shine Bright 4e File 4 Team Spirit.