Darts pupils are aiming for the double top
WICK High has become the first secondary school in Scotland to launch its own darts academy with dozens of teenagers stepping up to the oche as part of the current major surge in popularity of the sport.
More than 40 pupils have signed up to become members of Wick Darts School.
With Scotsman Gary Anderson winning the PDC World Darts Championship for the second year in a row, combined with extensive TV coverage on Sky Sports and ITV4, the huge exposure the sport is receiving is appealing to the younger demographic like never before.
Teachers have launched the new initiative as a way of improving pupils’ mental arithmetic as well as getting them involved in a new sport.
School janitor Sandy Mackay, who plays for The Norseman in the Wick and District Darts League (WDDL), is head of the new organisation.
“I would say Wick High School is the first to do this in Scotland,” he said.
“Six teachers have been involved in the establishment of the club along with darts coach Hugh Duncan.
“We’ve received the support of management at the school who agree with the teachers that darts can be good for their counting skills.
“We currently have 20 kids in the junior section and 20 in the seniors. In the junior section, we have 10 girls and 10 boys, but most of the players in the senior section are male.” The S1-3s play on Wednesday lunchtimes and the S4-6s play on Thursdays.
The darts school starts beginners off with a popular method of encouraging them to throw darts at pictures of teachers.
After learning the basic skills, the pupils move on to counting and scoring, where the use of any electronic devices are banned.
“During the first few weeks, they will be allowed to use their phones,” said Mr Mackay.
“But eventually the players have to do it in their heads.
“The main thing is we want it to be fun and we start off by helping them develop their throwing technique.
“Once they know how to hit the dart board, we move on to building up their scoring.”
Despite the club having only been recently launched, three Wick High pupils are already playing in the WDDL, with one ranked the top youth thrower in Scotland.
At only 13, Jack Duncan was crowned the Scottish Youth Champion at Glenrothes last May and he reached the last 64 of the World Masters in Hull in October.
“Playing darts looks easier than it is,” he said.
“You have to have good hand-eye co-ordination.
"It improves your mental maths skills, too – working out the scores helps to make you sharper.”
Jack believes that the club will encourage more young people to play the sport.
“My sister Abigail also plays darts, and I know that she took some of her friends who hadn’t played before to the juniors’ club last Wednesday.”
The teenagers are limited in what matches they can play in WDDL as they can only compete in private function halls and not in open bars due to licensing regulations.
There are however plans to establish a youth darts league with other schools in the north Highlands to develop players and prepare them to play at senior level once their age does not restrict them from pubs.
“The success of Jack Duncan was the inspiration to set up Wick Darts School,” said Mr Mackay.
“We already have three youngsters who play in the leagues and would class four players as very good.
“They could all hold their own at regional or national level.
“It is early days to know how good the rest of the players are but we will find that out in the next few months.
“But it’s important they get the chance to play in regular competition as they are not allowed to play in licensed areas of bars or venues.”
Mr Mackay adds: “Thurso High School have been in touch about starting up a youth league and it our intention to do that.
“We hope that these players will eventually progress to play in the WDDL as the number of players has dwindled in the league.
“But with the interest among youngsters in the game, the number of players could be in for a big boost soon.”
Mr Mackay said there may be critics who question why darts is being introduced to schools as some may not consider it a sport. But he said they are speaking ‘bull’.
“As far as we’re concerned, darts is a sport,” he said. “It’s not different to throwing a javelin.
“It is great to improve their counting as well as having massive social benefits, which are the reasons the school is supporting it.”