Microsoft Word darts scanned doc

are important to Good Darts. We offer a positive and systematic 
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approach for beginning play that can be applied to rapidly improve the basic skills 
required by competitive dart play. We have attempted to achieve a balance 
between fundamental skills and psychological skills, so that both dimensions of 
your game can be developed in harmony.
From a psychological point of view, darts is a game of personal skill and, more 
specifically, a game of active self-control skill. Unlike many competitive games of 
skill, you do not have to "react" to the plays or scores of your opponent. In 
essence, you are playing against or with yourself. Another person is simply taking 
turns with you in the pursuit of a similar goal. The goal is to play at your best level 
and finish as quickly as possible. Your true opposition is your remaining score, as 
you play down for the opportunity to hit a finishing out and win. 
Darts is a game played against an achievable standard of perfection. Perfection in 
101 is throwing three darts to finish the game. Perfection in 301 requires 6 darts, 
and only 9 darts in 501. Herein lies the excitement, challenge and potential 
addiction of playing Good Darts. It seems so simple, and it looks so easy to do. 
In the opinion of the authors, the ability to consistently throw Good Darts is one 
of the most difficult self-mastery skills to perfect and maintain. 
When you really begin to break the game down into the skill and precision 
required to win at high levels of competitive play, an illusion of simplicity or luck 
quickly dissipates. A good example is a video tape of John Lowe's perfect 501 
game in competition and on stage. Six darts into triple 20, the seventh into triple 
17, the eighth into triple 18, the ninth into double 18, is a performance that any 
dart player would want to see replayed over and over. What is sometimes 
overlooked is the years of practice, competition, and experience that contributed 
to such a brilliant success. 
Because darts is a precise game of skill, you will derive many personal benefits as 
you improve and refine your game. As you play the game and apply the skills we 
present, you will notice that the confidence and 
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self-control you develop in playing Good Darts will transfer over to other areas 
of your life. When a person develops a self-mastery skill (something one does 
well), s/he benefits personally and psychologically.
Psychological research indicates that healthy and high achieving people are active 
in their orientation to living and working. They accept personal responsibility for 
their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They use self-control skills to effectively 
deal with difficult problems and high stress situations. This is the basis for the 
application of our Personal Skills Development Model for darts. The game of 
darts presents you with many tasks and situations that require an application of 
psychological and self-mastery skills. As you learn and practice these skills to 
improve your game, you will also find other situations in life and work where their 
use is beneficial. 
Another major attraction and benefit of playing darts is the social nature of the 
game. You can obtain hours of fun and enjoyment by simply playing against 
yourself on a home board. However, sooner or later most people venture out 
from their home, or in the authors' cases, their garages, to find other sporting 
folks who like to play darts, talk about darts, and, in general, share the addiction of 
darts. Yes, it does seem that positive addiction occurs as a result of continuously 
hurling pointed objects at a fixed target, retrieving them, and hurling them again. 
Many people fail to grasp the challenge and excitement inherent in such behaviors 
and tend to say things like, "I thought darts was a kid's game." Once you allow 
yourself to start playing and experience the enjoyment first hand, comments like 
that will not dampen your spirit or curtail your darting behavior. You will never 
hear comments like that from a person who has seriously tried playing the game. 
One of the major social benefits associated with darts is the opportunity to meet 
all kinds of people from all walks of life. Love of darts is a good common 
denominator and few people pay any attention to whether you are a 
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doctor, lawyer or Indian chief. Even psychologists seem to be accepted ...or at 
least tolerated. One of the authors met a talented and intriguing lady during a 
game of darts. It is even rumored that a relationship began as a result of a bet 
during an extended marathon of dart competition. While it is not quite clear who 
actually won, the rumor produced a lot of fun and gossip at the local level. 
This relationship grew into a mixed doubles team with many personal and 
competitive benefits. Gary Low and Julie Buhidar have thrown in mixed doubles 
competition and achieved top finishes in ADO sanctioned tournament play. After 
a lapse in playing, they are again considering competing in tournament play. They 
are using the "Dart Improvement Program" to enhance their competitive games 
in the coming year. 
The benefits of playing darts are evident to the authors. A major goal of our book 
and program is to provide a systematic approach to achieving a level of play that 
most beginning players can reach in one year of regular and dedicated practice. 
Our book and program are for the majority of players who want to improve their 
game to a level where they can enjoy and experience the rewards of successful 
performances. Another goal in the development of the Good Darts book and 
"Dart Improvement Program"is to organize the information and strategies in a 
practical and easy to use format. 
In the next few pages, we have included the rules of play used by ADO in 
tournament play. To fully enjoy the game of darts, it is important you have a clear 
understanding of the rules of the game both as a player and as a scorekeeper (or 
chalker). One important factor in learning the rules early is you can then begin 
using every playing or scoring opportunity to improve counting and learn how 
different players approach finishing outs. 
For these reasons, we have included the ADO guidelines so you can always have a 
basic set of rules with you to answer questions and make accurate decisions as a 
scorekeeper. Once you are confident about the rules of play and have practiced 
scoring the basic games, you will be much more willing 
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to chalk in league and tournament play. Many beginning players are nervous about 
scoring for others. Knowing the games and rules of play will help you feel 
comfortable in chalking, especially if you practice scoring your own games 
correctly from the very beginning. In some places it is customary for you to wait 
your turn at the board and score the game before your turn to play. This is not a 
rule, but rather a courtesy. Chalking is best thought of as an important part of 
playing darts, rather than a chore to be avoided. 
GENERAL RULES OF PLAY 
The rules of play presented are those followed in ADO tournament play. Informal 
and fun play may have different rules as agreed upon by the players. We have 
listed those followed in most league or tournament play in the United States. At 
all levels of play, good sportsmanship is the prevailing attitude and at the heart of 
the game of darts. Rules are a way to answer questions and the basis for objective 
decision-making during play. 
NOTE: 
For terms that are unfamiliar and unique to the game of darts, you may 
want to refer to "Dart Talk" at the end of Section I. 
Throw
1. All darts must be thrown by and from the hand.
2. A throw consists of three darts unless a leg/match is completed in a 
lesser amount. 
Any dart bouncing off or falling out of the dartboard shall not be 
rethrown. 
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Starting and Finishing
1. All matches will be begun by throwing at the bullseye (cork). The first 
player to throw at the cork will be decided by a coin flip. The winner 
of the coin flip may select the option of throwing at the cork first or 
second. The player throwing closest to the cork shall throw first in the 
first leg. The loser of the first leg has the option of throwing the cork 
first in the second leg. If a third leg is necessary, the cork will again be 
thrown with the loser of the original coin flip having the option of 
throwing first for the cork. 
2. When the first thrower hits a bullseye, the second thrower may 
acknowledge the first dart as an inner or outer bull (cork) and ask for 
that dart to be removed prior to his/her throw. Otherwise, the dart 
must remain in the board in order to count. Additional throws may be 
made when throwing the cork until such time as the player's dart 
remains in the board. Should the second thrower dislodge the dart of 
the first, a rethrow will be made with the second thrower now 
throwing first. Rethrows shall be called if the scorer cannot decide 
which dart is closest to the cork or if both darts are anywhere in the 
inner bull or if both darts are anywhere in the outer bull. DECISION