Darts: Game or Sport? by Canadian Tie Conn

My opinion is this, anything you can get fatter at while you are doing it is not a sport, but that said, if the literal definition is applied: "Sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play." (Wikipedia 'Sports')

Darts may well fall into this category. Car racing is considered a sport but it requires less physical effort than darts. Sure reflexes are big in car racing, but darts also takes similar physical attributes to excel.

The Olympics argument can go a few ways. Car racing is not in the Olympics and neither is pool, but both could be, under the same premise as darts. I believe the Olympics look for games "where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome" (Wikipedia 'Sports').

Are darts a game like that? You can make a sound case either way.

Regards, Tie

Oklahoma Darter Tim Petri Has His Own Opinion...

My philosophy is that darts is a sport. It takes good eye-hand coordination which is something that is required in almost all sports. There is a lot of stamina that is required in darts. The longer you play, the more taxing it can become on the body. Now that is not to say you have to be a perfect specimen to play, but it does require some endurance. The thought process that goes into a match can also be draining to a person as well.

It is with these thoughts that darts is a sport. Plus, hopefully; before, during, and after the match; you show good sportsmanship. You normally don't do that with a game. This is just my opinion on the subject and hopefully it will be shared by others.

Mike Caldwell Speaks Up: Darts? Sport? Game?

This is an oft-debated issue, but in the end, we have to turn to the ol' dictionary. Two listings under the definition of "sport" carry relevance here:

1. An athletic activity requiring skill or prowess and often of a competitive nature...
3. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime.
Clearly, the game of darts requires skill, prowess, is competitive, is a recreation and diversion as well. Purely from citing the dictionary, of course it is a sport.

As for the Olympics, it's a tough call. I'm a purist about the Olympic Games, and the spirit of the original Games was to test the conditioning and physical endurance of the human body to its extreme; a classic event such as the marathon is the origin of the Games and the spirit behind them. Thus being a purist, I don't even think events such as Curling should be olympic events, as they are not prone to test human endurance or promote development of a strong, healthy body. The original Olympics intended to glorify the body as a machine, and showcase the most conditioned of athletes. Darts does not require elaborate conditioning and training of the human body. Nobody is being physically pushed to the limit in such conditions. Similarly, I don't think things like golf, curling, or archery should be events either, because they are just tests of ability, not conditioning. Quite honestly, fat dumpy people could win an Olympic medal in one of the aforementioned events, and as with darts, it flies in the face of the original spirit of the Games, as the Greeks conceived it centuries ago.

Darts does qualify as a sport, but not all sports qualify as Olympic sports.

From Ron Zazo - Darts: Game or Sport?

If you sat Ray Carver and Tiger Woods in the same room, then asked them a series of questions of what they do for a living? The only differance in their answers would be mechanics!

Enough said, Ron Zazo

From Alan Michalec - Darts: Game or Sport????

Now as to the question at hand...I've heard this question (debate) before but never really gave it much thought so the first thing I did was to find the definitions of each taking the definition that I felt fit the question best (source dictionary.com):

Sport – noun: An athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

Game - noun: A competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators.

Ath·let·ic – adjective: Involving the use of physical skills or capabilities, as strength, agility, or stamina.

On first glance there really doesn't appear to much of a difference between a sport and a game. Considering the definitions further it becomes clear to me. Darts does fit the definition of sport. Let me explain:

First part of the definition is "athletic activity" and darts fits this part breaking it down like this: Using the definition of athletic. Darts does involve the use of physical skills as in throwing the dart accurately from a balance position at the line. It uses the capability of strength as in ones arm tires, as a match or tournament goes on, which affects ones throw; capability of agility as in ones balance at the line and the capability of stamina as in standing and throwing at the line for hours. It is an activity in that one throws the dart, walks to retrieve ones darts, use hand eye coordination to aim the dart, and use balance at the line.

Second part of the definition is "requiring skill or physical prowess" and darts fits this part also as follows: Darts requires the skill of aiming, throwing a dart and hitting a target. Darts requires physical prowess as in the use of ones arm in making the throw and hitting a target accurately.

Finally, the third part of the definition "of a competitive nature" and darts does fit this as well pretty much self explanatory.

Darts by its very nature fits the definition of a "game".

So I know what your thinking "OK, so which is it?" Well in my opinion it is both. I know that cleared the question right up. Let me explain the way I see it. Sport is an athletic activity such as baseball, football, basketball, hockey and yes darts, as it fits the definition of a sport, etc. A game is the way one participates within a sport such as a baseball game, basketball game, hockey game, dart game etc.

As for being an Olympic event: When one thinks of the Olympics one thinks of highly physical demanding sports. There is a precedent for less physically demanding sports by the IOC for instance Shooting, Equestrian, and Archery and several others that are not contested in the games but are recognized as Olympic Sports. Darts evolved from archery, which is already an Olympic sport which is contested in the games, so yes I believe that darts should be included in the list of recognized Olympic sports. Come to think of it notice we refer to them as Olympic Sports but participating in them is called the Olympic Games.

Regards and may the trips be with you,
Alan Michalec

Darts ARE a GAME! by Nancy Visocki

GAME. Definitely game. Until last year (in Chicago, at least) smoking could occur while playing. Long distance running, swimming, pole vaulting, hockey, football, not so much.

And let's not forget the adult beverages!

How many figure skaters take a swig of Budweiser before a triple axle? Do you ever see a gymnast chug a martini before the floor exercises? Even the half naked beach volleyball players aren't sipping mojitos on their breaks.

Get real, folks. I'm not saying it doesn't take talent, training and practice to be a great dart player, but it doesn't take muscle, good health and a healthy lifestyle. When I stop seeing players on Saturday nights who are slurring their words--when Sunday mornings produce well rested, fresh-faced competitors instead of players wandering around complaining that they have to wait until noon for a beer--or worse yet, when I stop seeing players bring in their contraband at 10:00 AM and brag that they need a little "eye-opener" or "hair of the dog," then, and only then, would I reconsider my opinion.

Darts is a Sport According to Jeroen from The Netherlands...

"To be honest I’m not so busy with this question. I love darts and it does not bother me how people name it". That would be my first reaction to this question. That is some narrow minded, so let's think further. Without the Wikipedia and other encyclopedias I would define a sport like this: There is an opponent, you are competing and at the end there is a winner ! So, DARTS is a sport definitely.

To join is my darts mentality these days. A lovely evening, a nice tournament...... winning comes at 2d place. You could say that I play darts with the Olympic thought (to join is more important than winning). I would not consider MY game as a sport.

Wait a minute, I don't have the time right now. I will get time in the future. I'm gonna practice for hours and I definitely will be hungry for results. It will become a sport again. YES, I will be ready for 2012 when the Olympics are held in England.

About the bars and the cafeterias: People in offices (?) will decide over this subject. I am not convinced that they will study our fabulous sport (!) properly. If these people ever say that we dart players drink and eat to much....., Please remind them of the fact that the ancient winners of the Olympics were rewarded with free food and drinks for the rest of their lives! And yes, that I looked up in Wikipedia.

Please, can I go further with my practice records now?

Jeroen van den Helder, The Netherlands
AKA Mr.19

DSD Writes...

Yes, darts is definately a sport in my mind, and nothing else. Why it has not been characterized a sport is beyond me!

TB Willing from Canada on Darts as a Sport...

I have answered that I, and others up here (in Canada) feel that shooting pool and throwing darts are similar in that they both require accurate shot making and decision making. So, with that rationale, I feel that if pool is recognized as a sport, then darts should be recognized as a sport as well. Hope everyone is enjoying your darts, I have had vision problems so have struggled, but still am able to play and get the odd "out" for my team.

Yes indeed, darts is a sport!

Regarding darts being a sport or.........." Darts compares to playing pool in precision shot making and decision making so therefore has equal status in my opinion" If pool is in then darts should be too!

Darts: Game or Sport? from Chicagoan Kat McCann

I think Darts should be a sport. It takes practice, concentration, stamina and consistency. It is not just a bar game. It may have started as a bar game, but it has progressed just as tobbaggoning, snowboarding ice skating etc. Kat...

From Canada's Jon Willis, YES! Darts are a Sport!

Of course, darts has become a sport that's why there is a world wide pro-tour and of course Britain is hosting the olympics in 2012. What better place to start including darts in the Olympics! Let's hope the rest of the countries agree!

Darts NOT a Sport According to Joe Dabrowski

Darts is a Bar-room game. You can be out of shape and drinking, and play darts. A real Olympic game means that you have to be a real athlete.

Darts Are a Sport

(From Chicago's Kat McCann) Sherilyn, this is from a friend of mine in Collinsville, Illinois US...

Are darts are a sport??? Sport!

Editor's Note: Short but sweet, I love it. Yes, indeed, darts are a sport! Kat, tell your friend thanks for the word.

From Mean Irene, Alaska

I heard that back in the 1990's the Alaska State Legislature almost declared the game of darts a gambling activity because they believed darts to be a game of chance. It was their intent to stop events like blind draws or tournaments by making them illegal. To save our "sport" from this impending legislation, a dart board was set up in the capital building, and a fellow darter put on what amounted to an exhibition for our legislators. This darter so impressed the audience that they declared the game of darts to be a game of skill, not a game of chance. Thank goodness!

Now, is darts a game or a sport? I think it depends on the attitude of the player. There are a lot of casual darters out there. For them, throwing darts is an occasional social activity. Then there are those few players who are so determined to throw well that throwing darts becomes an obsession.

I'm one of the obsessed types. I'm not an athlete in the normal sense, but I do know that in order to throw consistently well, I have to work at it. A really good darter needs hand-eye coordination, healthy muscles in the back, shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist and hand, and a positive can-do mental attitude. Good eye-sight is a plus, too, but not necessarily a must. A good warm up and cool down routine should be practiced by every serious darter in order to maintain good muscle health. Throwing injuries are very debilitating and take forever to overcome. So, thinking about darts from an athletic point of view, darts is most definitely a sport.

And how about that "high-five" you get from all your fellow darters after a great toss? Darts. Definitely a sport. E. Irene Goodwin aka "Mean Irene"

The Dart Frog's Opinion About Darts as a Sport...

"DartFrog" sez...

1) It requires great physical precision which must be repeated. To do this consistently one requires regular practice to develop skill. Practice thus involves not only familiarity with a strategy, but also a process of learning to aim, and training a set of muscles to perform the same task over and over.

2) There are 2-3 recognized major games, and a unique suite of "game theories" applies to each.

3) Darts is played competitively at leisure (=home), organized amateur (leagues), and professional levels.

(1)+(2)+(3) = Darts is a sport. That it is most often played, at least publicly, in taverns is somewhat irrelevant.

From Dawn O'Malley - Darts ARE a Sport!

As a former world-ranked athlete who practiced 6 - 8 hours a day, seven days a week for 14 years, I have often struggled to reconcile whether or not Darts should be considered a 'sport'. After all, the stereotypical dart player isn't exactly the picture of fitness perfection and, again, stereotypically, tends to imbibe a little more than the average person. Not exactly what our paradigm of an athlete would be! Yet Wikipedia defines a sport as, "...an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome (winning or losing)...Sport is commonly defined as an organised, competitive and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play." The definition says nothing about athleticism or physical fitness.

Hmmm... If you consider that most professional dart players are very committed to perfecting their skills and practice many hours a day, that darts is governed by a set of rules, that it is played competitively and that the physical capabilities of the competitor determine the outcome, I guess one would have to conclude that darts IS a sport.

- Dawn

US Darter Nancy Huntoon Speaks Up About Darts as a Sport...

You may find various definitions both in books and from personal opinion. There are other sports that are as equally non-taxing physically as darts, billiards, archery, and some others. However, you should not base the definition entirely on physical output. Sure darts started out in pubs etc but grew to be a highly competitive and exacting activity. In all sports and recreational activities, you have those participants that are very competitive and take the event seriously and those that are just out for a day of fun, (of course you don’t necessarily divide the two, you can have fun and be very competitive too)…my point is that darts has been more than a pub activity for a long time. It is played all around the world and requires intense and enduring mental concentration as well as hand-eye coordination and is not limited by age! The organizations that have developed and supported players reaches world wide, and competitions have grown beyond the occasional tournament. The WDF World Cup is not unlike other international competitions featuring a wide range of players from countries from different continents. There is now the PDC which offers big money in their tournaments and these are televised!

As for the Olympics, don’t plan on seeing darts in England in 2012. That’s a shame considering the host country is foremost in this sport. From what I have read the sports to be included have already been decided for 2012 and this is the end of 2008. According to the ADO President the WDF has been working on a drug testing policy, however, I know that this is already required for the WDF World Cup. The Olympics are no longer a venue for just “amateurs”, it now allows professional athletes to participate.

I think it would be terrific if darts were included in the Olympics at some point and they deserve to be, but I wouldn’t count on it. Keep in mind there are only a certain number of sports that can be part of the total program, and one may be included in one Olympics and then be dropped in another, i.e. women’s softball.

Nancy Huntoon, Virginia, US

From Patrick Chaplin of England, AKA Dr. Darts: Darts is a Sport

My personal view is that the majority of (for want of a better word) ‘ordinary’ darts players are not worried about whether or not darts is actually approved as a sport. They either already know it is (and care not for someone’s approval) or they simply just don’t care – and get on with the game.

It is the WDF who are working on darts becoming either an Olympic sport or at least an Olympic demonstration sport. Negotiations have progressed very slowly indeed and my personal view is that darts will be neither.

There are numerous benefits to be derived from eventual Olympic recognition but in the meantime watch the PDC make massive steps in promoting and commercialising our sport their way across the planet. However, having said that, one must recognise too the great work being undertaken over many, many years, by the WDF in bringing the family of darts together.

I hope this makes sense!

Best wishes,
Patrick Chaplin, Ph.D., Dr. Darts, England

To read more about Patrick Chaplin's view of the dart world with regard to darts being a sport, Read Patrick Chaplin's Article as Published on His Dart Website.