Darts is a very popular sport and is currently on the rise. More and more people are looking to play darts not just amongst friends or family but in a league or to play pennants. The question many people ask is where can I go to join a league or to play competitive darts? Below we take a look at the major darts organisations in each country and direct you to the right area to join a league or play competitive darts in your country.
In general darts is governed around the world by the World Darts Federations (WDF). The WDF was formed in 1976 and currently has over 70 member countries. They determine the playing area, the board dimensions, official equipment, etc. though each organisation (such as the PDC) determines their own tournament rules and regulations, regulation equipment,
etc. The WDF also organises its own tournaments.
Underneath the WDF each country has their own organisations of which we go into more detail below.
United Kingdom
The home of darts and the home of the biggest darts playing population in the world. Darts has huge pockets of players playing in a wide range of leagues. From a basic level of a league organised by their local pub all the way through to the PDC tour. In the UK (and the world) the biggest stage is the PDC tour. The PDC has all the big tournaments for the most prizemoney with most of the world’s best players.
If you are good enough and want to test yourself against the best you can enrol in the PDC qualifying school (http://www.pdpa.co.uk/) with try outs usually held in January. If you are younger then you can try out for the PDC Unicorn Development Tour (ages 16-23) (https://www.pdcplayers.com/)
At a grassroots level, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland these are run by UK Darts Association (UKDA) and leagues and events are run through your local county in most cases under the UKDA banner. The UKDA runs the Darts Corner National League which is split into several divisions from the Elite Premiership (top level) to the League Three (lowest level).
In Scotland, their grassroots leagues and competition are run under the Scottish Darts Association (SDA) banner and county leagues and competitions in Scotland usually fall under the SDA. The highest league in Scotland is the Scotland County League.
In the UK and in Scotland most counties usually have their own website highlighting fixtures, darts news and any upcoming events.
UK Website: https://ukdartsassociation.com/
Scottish Website: https://www.sdadarts.com/
Ireland
While not as popular a spot as over the border or across the Irish Sea, darts in Ireland has a dedicated following and many amateur players. Irish darts are run by the Irish National Darts Organisation (INDO). Their biggest tournament is the Irish Open (along with the Irish Classic) part of the Killarney Darts Festival at the Gleneagle Hotel under the WDF banner. Similar to the UK all grassroots darts and leagues comes under the INDO banner and most counties have their own darts website.
Website: https://www.indodarts.com/
The Netherlands
One of the bigger non UK darts playing country per capita and home to some great darts players such as Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld. Darts in The Netherlands is run by the Netherlands Darts Bond (Dutch Darts Association) (NDB) which was founded in 1976. The NDB governs the grassroots darts game in The Netherlands with the 25 member organisations (similar to the county organisations in the UK and Ireland) under the NDB banner. The biggest Dutch darts tournament is the Toto Dutch Open (a PDC event), currently held in June at De Bonte Wever.
Website: https://www.ndbdarts.nl/
Germany
Probably a level below The Netherlands in terms of players per capita, Germany is an up an coming darts nation. Dazn has established an imprint in Germany with their coverage and this grows every year. Darts in Germany is run by the Der Deutsche Dartverband (German Dart Association) (DDV) which was founded in 1982. The DDV governs the grassroots darts
game in Germany under the DDV banner. The highest level league in Germany is the Bundesliga and this is split into the Bundesliga North and the Bundesliga South. There is 9 teams in each of the north and south leagues and the top 4 of each play out the German championship over a weekend.
The biggest German darts tournament is the German Darts Championship though Germany is host of the European Darts Grand Prix and the European Darts Open (all PDC events).
Website: https://deutscherdartverband.de/
Belgium
Also probably a level below The Netherlands in terms of players per capita, Belgium is another up an coming darts nation. Darts in Belgium is run by Belgium Darts which is in control of the grassroots darts game in Belgium. The biggest Belgian darts tournament is the Belgian Darts Championship or the Belgian Darts Open (both PDC events).
Website: http://www.bedarts.be/
Australia
Darts is a popular game in Australia (mainly due to colonial ties to the UK) with many ex pat English visiting pubs or their local clubs to play darts. The PDC has a presence in Australia with several Masters Events (previous iterations including the Perth, Melbourne and Sydney Masters). Darts in Australia is controlled by Darts Australia with all states
running their local leagues under the Darts Australia banner.
Website: http://www.dartsaustralia.com.au/
New Zealand
Similar to Australia, darts is a popular game in New Zealand with a similar history dating back to the UK settling in New Zealand. The PDC also has a presence in New Zealand with the New Zealand Darts Masters Event in Hamilton NZ. Darts in New Zealand is controlled by New Zealand Darts Council with all regions (North and South Island associations) running their local leagues under the New Zealand Darts Council banner.
Website: http://nzdarts.com/
USA
For a while darts looked like exploding in popularity in the USA particularly in the Las Vegas strip. The PDC had tournaments such as the Las Vegas Desert Classic and the US Darts Masters in Las Vegas however the darts big tournament popularity seems to have fallen back. That’s not to say that darts isn’t popular at the grass roots level.
A previous Guardian article estimates there were at least 17 million amateur darts players in the USA however they were stumped as to why darts wasn’t a bigger name sport with that level of grassroots popularity.
Darts in the USA is a little fragmented, with three organisation trying to run the sport of darts in America. American Darters Association (ADA), American Darts Organisation (ADO) and the National Dart Association (NDA) are the three main bodies for darts in the USA. Given the larger presence of soft tip darts in the USA (represented by the NDA and partially by the ADA) is part of the reason for the fragmentation as well as the three organisations not always working in alignment to grow the game. The largest steel tip only organisation is the ADO and they are a full member under the WDF. The PDC has events in the USA as part of the CDC.
Website: https://www.adodarts.com/
Canada
Similar to Australia, darts is a popular game in Canada with a similar history dating back to the UK folk settling in Canada. The PDC also has a presence in Canada with the CDC Tour. Darts in Canada is controlled by National Darts Federation of Canada with each province in Canada running their local leagues under the National Darts Federation of Canada banner.
Website: http://www.ndfc.ca/
Japan
Like a lot of Asian countries, darts is increasing in popularity. With further investment by organisations such as the PDC darts will keep growing in Japan. Darts in Japan is controlled by the Japan Sports Federation of Darts. Each of the bigger cities of Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Yokosuka) run their local leagues under the Japan Sports Federation of Darts banner. The biggest tournament in Japan is the Japan Open and as mentioned above the PDC has a footprint in Japan through the PDC Asia Japan Qualifier tournament.
Website: http://jsfd.or.jp/
China
Darts is slowly gaining popularity in China though there isn’t a high participation rate (particularly given the size of the population). Dartboards can be found in nightspots in China, usually in English or Irish themed pubs and some of the locals with throw for a few rounds. COVID lockdowns haven’t helped with the game of darts in China. PDC does have a
footprint in China through the PDC China Premier League. The highest league in China is the China Series-A League.