Darts has become much more popular in recent years, with pubs now creating teams and joining leagues all over the county, where players of all ages and ability are able to play across many different levels every day of the week. But the real question is, how can darts be an unexpected lifeline for young people?
Darts has become one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, with 35% of the British population now being more interested in the sport than they were two years ago, that’s just for viewing it on the TV.
In Walsall and Wednesbury, Darts is typically played on a Friday night and Sunday morning, with a range of different pubs coming together to create a league, where players of all ages are bought in, to test their skills and improve their playing styles.
By playing with a mix of ability, can help you to better yourself as you learn to study how your opponents and improve yourself by trying to score higher.
Another way of improving is by practicing regularly, as darts corner states, ‘it is important to set yourself a practice routine that you can follow regularly.’
‘Whether you set aside one hour once a week or 30 minutes every day, try to get into the habit of practicing regularly for a certain period.’
In terms of young people, having a practice dart board in the house can really help, as Manjeet {a pub owner, who allows darts teams to play} said, “I think it would be good for them to get practice in, and be able to play from home, you know, it can lead to something more professional, couldn’t it, especially when that passion to do well is there.”
Darts is also more than just throwing a point at a board, Rob {a local player} states, “that darts is about so much more, it’s about counting, adding up, taking away, and a whole lot of other skills, it’s a great way to get in with sport and with the community”
“There’s everything about today in darts, the boards, the lights, the flights, all the different equipment, and parents should think well; if he enjoys it, get the boards in the wall, and everything’s superb for them, and it’s all there for them today.”
A big name for many young people and teens is Luke Littler, where the Guardian stated that ‘a peak audience of 2.5 million people watched the World Championship final on Sky Sports, where Luke Littler defended his title, ultimately inspiring young people to take part after seeing his success at just seventeen years old.
Simon, another local darts player, spoke up on the effect, “I think Luke Littler’s inspiring a lot of the youth to get involved and do something productive, so they’re not on the street, and not roaming around doing nothing, or causing trouble”
“In our Friday Night league, there’s a lot of young players coming through and doing very well, and when they’re getting that success, they’re inspired even more by that.”
For young people, darts is a big thing and having leagues and social events really help to push them out of their comfort zone and give them that boost and passion to drive forward and be as best as they can be.