Qld cabbie allegedly punched boy in head

A Townsville cabbie has allegedly punched a youth in the head in a "bizarre" attack linked to a tennis ball hitting his taxi.

Police allege the 64-year-old man approached a group of schoolchildren after they hopped off a ferry from Magnetic Island on Thursday morning.

They say he got into an argument about a tennis ball hitting his taxi last week before allegedly hitting a 14-year-old youth in the head and stomach.

Senior Sergeant Graeme Paine called the alleged assault a "complete overreaction" and an "appalling outcome to a minor incident".

"It's quite bizarre," he told AAP.

"People need to get perspective about how they want to deal with a basic situation involving a child."

The man has been charged with common assault and is due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on March 10.

The youth did not receive any injuries.