Darts is a popular game around the world. However, many question whether Darts is a sport.
Darts has the hallmarks of any traditional sport. It requires skill, and competitive organizations run tournaments for amateurs and professionals. However, naysayers claim that darts are not an actual sport because players do not exert enough physical exertion.
So, is darts a sport? Let’s explore that in more detail.
What Makes Darts a Sport?
There are two criteria for an activity to be classified as a sport: it must require physical exertion and has some rules and an organizing body. As you will see, Darts fits both of these criteria.
For example, Darts players may not break a sweat as much as other sports players. However, throwing darts at a distant target requires balance, fine motor skills, and other feats of physical strength. Darts players must practice, just like practitioners of any sport. If shooting and archery are considered sports, so is Darts, as many of the physical skills needed are comparable.
Darts is also a highly organized sport. There are several official organizations for players, including the Professional Darts Corporation, which organize competitions. These governing bodies also help determine the rules of the sport.
When Was Darts Officially Recognized as a Sport?
Sport England was one of the first to recognize darts as a sport in 2005 officially. Sport Wales, Scotland, and Ireland quickly followed suit.
Darts is also officially considered a sport in many countries, including the United States, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.
Conclusion
So, is darts a sport? Although Darts may have yet to gain the widespread recognition of other sports, such as soccer and basketball, Darts was officially recognized as a sport in the United Kingdom in 2005.
Darts fits both of the criteria for classification as a sport. Players have to exert themselves physically to throw darts, and the sport is structured with rules and governed by several organizations.
