This time, we're devoting ourselves to a debate that's been raging for years. Since darts has become increasingly popular on television , there have been increasing discussions about whether darts can actually be considered a sport or not.
In this blog post, we will go into this in more detail and explain why we at myDartpfeil are of the clear opinion that darts can rightly be called a sport - even if it may not seem that way to many newcomers to darts at first glance.
In the end, however, many factors play a role in darts that are also noticeable in other, much more recognized sports.
Is darts a sport?
Everyone will have their own opinion on this question, but ultimately the answer everyone has raises the question of how they justify their answer.
For example, I say that I don't believe motorsport is a sport. I base this on the fact that the driver, the main participant, is largely dependent on the performance of his car rather than on his own skills—since he ultimately has no control over the speed.
At this point, some of you might be smiling and wondering: This idea isn't so far-fetched. Or you might see it completely differently and think: What nonsense! And this is exactly where we should start with darts.
There are different views that need to be substantiated. Even if a definition clearly states that it is a sport, ultimately, social acceptance and image determine whether darts is truly viewed as a "sport" or simply as a pub activity .
How is a sport defined?
Here's the definition according to Wikipedia: A sport is a branch of sport structured by specific rules. Sports can be classified according to certain factors.
The participant, the sports equipment , the venue , or the method of execution . However, due to many mental influences, it is relatively difficult to find a clear and unambiguous definition for the term "sport."
Why, for example, should chess be considered a sport and darts not? When comparing these two sports, it's striking that many people completely underestimate the mental aspect of darts—even though this factor accounts for the largest share of performance .
Pro – Why darts is a sport
The Federal Sports Organization does have a clearer definition, which makes the answer to the question of whether darts is a sport a little clearer.
It states that sport is defined as follows: "Motor activities that require physical skills and effort, can be practiced competitively in interaction with other people, or have a health-promoting character."
Okay, apart from the aspect of its health-promoting nature, everything ultimately applies to the sport of darts.
For this reason, there's ultimately no reason not to classify darts as a sport. Especially since the question of what exactly is beneficial to health is highly controversial.
Be it a back that hurts after a while , the haze of a cloud of smoke, or a beer that's not exactly good for your health. There are precisely these kinds of things to complain about in every sport.
Playing football isn't necessarily good for your body and you're also exposed to a much higher risk of injury than you are with darts.
For this reason: For us, darts is clearly a sport!
Contra – Why darts is not a sport
But there are also some people on this planet who can still only smile wearily and are of the opinion that darts is not a sport.
Unfortunately, society still has the image of a pub sport , and darts, especially in Germany, is only slowly beginning to break away from this image, and with a lot of effort and work. However, this is largely due to the fact that amateur darts players also play in pubs.
The image suggests that darts is all about drinking, smoking, and partying. Along the way, a few darts are thrown randomly at a board. Pretty clumsy, isn't it? And you certainly can't call something like that a darts sport.
Unfortunately, these people often forget one thing: darts requires enormous mental adjustment . The competition, which is usually played one-on-one, is extremely explosive.
The conditions under which the game is played are always the same for both players. The same space , the same distance from the board , but the equipment—the darts themselves—can be freely chosen by each player .
This is precisely what makes it incredibly difficult for a player to find someone to blame for a defeat – similar to other individual sports such as tennis.
The mental pressure that players have to deal with is therefore higher than in almost any other sport – especially because it’s all about hitting a field that’s just a few millimeters wide.
And yes, in many pubs people smoke and drink beer while playing darts. However, professional players don't smoke or drink alcohol on stage .
In football, you can't say it's not a sport just because the spectators in the stands are shouting, smoking and drinking, can you?
Darts from a different perspective – physical, mental, training, etc.
But darts can also be viewed from another perspective. It's physically demanding, and that is, it's more demanding than you might think. The back is subjected to considerable strain over time, which is why it's important to regularly strengthen it with special training .
I've already mentioned the mental component in detail. And there's something else that speaks in favor of darts being a sport: regular training , which also takes place in darts.
Conclusion – Darts is a sport
Our conclusion is therefore unequivocal and clear: darts should be considered a sport because it fulfills all the prerequisites it requires: regular training , motor skills that determine skill or talent, and competitive sports under pressure .
If everyone thinks about it more carefully, there's no reason not to consider darts a sport. It's not without reason that the darts associations have been working for years to have it included as a sport at the Olympic Games in the near future.
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