‘NO BALL GAMES’ SIGNS REINVENTED IN BID TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO EXERCISE

A groundbreaking initiative from charity London Sport has transformed ‘No Ball Games’ signs into vibrant basketball hoops to encourage children to exercise
More than half of the country’s children are not considered sufficiently active[1]
London Lions basketball players, including captain and ex Love Islander Ovie Soko, help the charity unveil the first hoop
The campaign comes alongside a petition demanding the removal of ‘No Ball Games’ signs

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London, 18th March 2025 – A London council has backed an initiative to replace ‘No Ball Games’ signs with basketball hoops to get young Brits engaged in sport and physical activity.

With an estimated 7,000 signs across London alone[2], a new Banksy-styled campaign has been rolled out in Lambeth to shine a spotlight on the city’s youth inactivity crisis and the role that these outdated signs play in it.

According to the charity London Sport, ‘No Ball Games’ signs deter an estimated 80 young people[3] from engaging in sport and physical activity – which could have led to more than half a million young people being discouraged from playing and staying active.

Today, with the support of the London Lions basketball team including captain Ovie Soko, the charity helped local youngsters transform an infamous ‘No Ball Games’ sign into an invitation for play.

The first reimagined sign – now a fully functional basketball hoop – was unveiled at the Mursell Estate in Lambeth and comes at a critical time.

The latest data from Sport England reveals that more than half of the country’s children (52.7%) are failing to meet the Chief Medical Officers’ recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise[4].

In London, the situation is even more stark, with 32% of children and young people averaging less than 30 active minutes per day[5].

Beneath these figures also lies a deep socio-economic disparity, with children in the city’s most deprived areas three times more likely[6] to be inactive than those in the wealthiest parts.

Captain and ex-Love Island star Ovie Soko, a champion for youth empowerment, says, “This initiative is exactly what London’s young people need. It’s about more than basketball – it’s about the opportunity to be active and be part of something bigger.” Lenz Balan, President of the London Lions, added, “Basketball has the power to change lives, and we’re proud to support an initiative that gives more young people the opportunity to play.”

London Sport – a charity focused on helping people live longer, healthier and happier lives through being active – is calling for urgent action to remove barriers to activity and reclaim public spaces for movement, fun and community wellbeing.

Emily Robinson, Chief Executive at London Sport, said: “These ‘No Ball Games’ signs send the wrong message especially to children and young people. As a society we need to be finding suitable, safe places which proactively encourage children to play, exercise and take a break from screens and devices.”

“This campaign aims to drive policy change to remove barriers to active lives, starting with eliminating these signs. This will have a ripple knock-on effect on tackling obesity, improving life expectancy, children’s academic performance, mental health and ease pressure on the NHS.”

Lambeth Council has already started to remove some ‘No Ball Games’ signs across their estates where safe and appropriate to do so.

Claire Holland, Lambeth Council Leader, shared enthusiasm for the project: “Lambeth Housing is happy to support this campaign. Our Child friendly policy asks for children to be made welcome on the estates where they live. No ball games signs do not help children feel part of their community. This campaign is really vital for us in terms of building a child-friendly borough so that we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to play sport, get fit, play with their friends and lead happy and fruitful lives.”

The launch at Mursell Estate builds on the recent findings of the Play Commission’s Interim Report, which highlights the steady decline in children’s play but only scratches the surface of the issue. A second sign in Lewisham is to undergo an identical makeover, with others hoped to follow shortly.

Members of the public are invited to join the More Ball Games movement and sign a petition to demand the removal of ‘No Ball Games’ signs. Each signature will help get one step closer to transforming neighbourhoods and providing new places for young people to come together, get active, and chase their dreams. The goal is simple: encourage young people to hit their target of 60 minutes of daily exercise – one hoop at a time.