At one time, the game of darts made people think of adults in dark, smoky bars.
But that stereotype is waning and these days there are plenty of kids playing darts, says Marjorie Allardyce, youth director for Darts Ontario.
There are 27 youth leagues in the province, most at branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.
There could be lots of other clubs in Ontario, Allardyce believes, if dart leagues were allowed in schools.
But education officials forbid that because they consider a dart a weapon, she says.
That's unfortunate because kids learn many things from the sport of darts, Allardyce says.
"It teaches them a lot about concentration and team play," she says.
"And it really helps their mathematics. The kids have to add up their own scores. A lot of parents have told me how much their children's math has improved by playing darts.
"It's a great sport for the kids," said Allardyce. "And it is a cheap sport."
To get started in a league, participants buy a set of three darts, which usually costs less than $20.
A Darts Ontario membership costs $13 per year. Club registration fees are between $25 and $50.
Darts Ontario has three age groupings for youths. Those 12 and younger are tyke players. Juniors are 15 and younger, seniors 18 and younger.
Kids in leagues can simply play to have fun if they wish, but Darts Ontario members can also enter competitive events that lead to national championships. (Those at the tyke level, however, do not progress past the provincial level.)
There is no official minimum age for kids to start playing in a darts league.
"It depends on the club," Allardyce says. The youngest members at most clubs are 8 or 9, although, "some have them playing as young as 6."
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