On the 24th May, The Unicorn Darts Youth Academy the first of its kind in the United Kingdom celebrated its first birthday. Run under the guidance of Andover Invitation Darts the Academy has achieved much in 12 months.
The membership has risen from 22 in the opening months to 63 with an equal mix of both young ladies and men.
Such has been the success and regular attendance, the Wednesday night sessions have been split. The 23 juniors aged between 10 and 13 are coached from 6.30 until 8pm when the 40 seniors aged between 14 and 21 take over.
With a philosophy of “the ability to play rather than pay” annual subscription costs just £1 and the enthusiastic work of the coaching staff and committee ensure that all costs such as entry fees and coach travel is provided free of charge due to wonderful support of the Academy partners.
The Academy has forged strong links with Unicorn Darts, Test Valley Borough Council, Testway 7’s and the Hampshire Police and has also been successful in gaining funding from Hampshire County Council and the Youth Opportunity Fund.
On joining, each youngster receives a membership card and pack and on completion of their 12 week probationary period they are presented with their own Academy shirt embroidered with their own and sponsors names.
A rotating seven week cycle has been designed to help improve accuracy, counting and finishing and includes a “Darts-Athlon”, Internal leagues of singles, pairs, mixed pairs and triples as well as Team Matches and a 201 Out-shot Clinic. Within this framework there is a format for measuring progress which is rewarded monthly.
There is a regular Darts Quiz Homework Page designed to be both fun and educational with continuous and encouraging feedback on improved numeracy and the youngsters enjoy their own pages within the website.
As a team, the Academy has already taken part in a 12 hour darts marathon, adopted Naomi House as its charity, held a Youth Singles Open and played the Hampshire Youth Team twice, narrowly losing on each occasion.
As individuals, the Academy has provided a winner and runner up in The Essex Youth Open, The Andover Youth Open and the National Railway Club finals and now have over 20 members playing in various local senior leagues.
The coaching team and committee look forward with confidence to the rest of this year which culminates in the December presentation night where amongst the many awards a second Academy member will be nominated to join Jamie Kelling as the second graduate of the Unicorn Team Generation 180.
Above all the youngsters are encouraged to enjoy the game what ever level they might achieve and the Academy motto is: DIGNITY, ASPIRATION, RESPECT, TEAM-SPIRIT, SPORTSMANSHIP
Our photo shows Academy captains presenting a cheque for Naomi House Childrens Hospice.