For many, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about darts is a dark pub where friends have fun launching those little arrows while chatting to each other and enjoying cold beers. When you picture darts like this, it’s hard to imagine that it is more than an entertaining game. However, the truth is that darts is officially a sport. Learn more about the reasons why and how darts was converted into a sport after being considered a game for centuries.
Darts was first invented and played in England. From there, it spread worldwide and it is now enjoyed by players on all continents. It comes as no surprise that this is also the country where darts managed to earn its sport distinction. Official sports organizations in England such as the athletic funding organization Sport England officially recognize darts as a sport. This organization considers darts a sport as it complies with the official definition of the word sport: ‘a contest in which people need to achieve a specific result by using some sort of physical skills and following a set of rules’.
Now, let’s think about how darts fits this description. Does it have rules? Yes. Are there specific results players need to achieve? Yes, each game has different rules and goals, for example, in 801, 501, and 301, the goal is to deduct your score until you reach zero points first.
Does darts involve certain physical skills? This is probably the question that gives rise to the highest debates as there are still many who consider that darts is not worthy of being called a sport. Indeed, darts doesn’t require the same intense training as other sports such as football or basketball, but this doesn’t mean it is not challenging for the body. Whoever throws a dart for the first time and hopes to hit the bull’s eye will probably fail. It takes time and a lot of practice to be able to improve your aim and your throwing accuracy and for this reason, darts does indeed require certain physical skills and can therefore be considered a sport.
Another argument that pleaded in favor of darts while Sport England was still in doubt about whether to consider darts a sport or not was its resemblance with other sports such as fishing or hunting. Both of these are not physically challenging activities at their core, however, they both imply certain physical skills. In fishing, you need to know how to maneuver instruments to be able to catch fish, in hunting, you need to know how to successfully shoot to be able to catch a game animal during a contest.
Some may even argue that hitting a target with a small projectile actually involves more physical preparation than pulling a trigger. While darts is not a physically strenuous activity in its nature, it does pose some physical challenges – hand-eye coordination, improved aim, consistency, and muscle discipline. For all these reasons, darts does fit the official definition of the word sport and passes the test.
Besides Sport England’s decision to officially consider darts a sport, this activity is worthy of its name for several other reasons too. Just like any other sport, darts has two international regulatory organizations – the Professional Darts Corporation and the British Darts Organization. These two organizations have organized hundreds of tournaments for the past years. Players from all over the world take part in these contests and hefty prices are at stake. This sport also has an official federation – the World Darts Federation (WDF) that was founded in 1976. Moreover, as a final argument, let’s note that darts is often listed among other professional sports by many bookmakers.
We hope you’ve enjoyed all these fun and interesting arguments that advocate for darts as a sport. If you’re among the millions of people who enjoy this sport, don’t forget we have the necessary tools that can help you become better at it.
