The Academy celebrated its second birthday last week at the Entertainer by welcoming parents and partners to an open Academy session.
The Academy has been supported by Unicorn Darts, Testway Housing, Testway 7’s, Hampshire Police, Test Valley Borough Council and the Hampshire Youth Opportunity Fund and many were there to witness the new white and black senior shirt presentation presided over by Unicorn’s owner and managing director Mr Edward Lowy.
A delegation from Testway Housing was on hand to present a cheque for £2000 towards this year’s funding and enjoy an exhibition by the youngsters on stage and there was a buffet enjoyed by all.
On a normal night 5 boards are used for both junior and senior sessions with a range of disciplines to sharpen their skills. Sometimes the stage is used to give experience of what it is like to play in a final (the Academy had 5 players on stage at the recent Essex Open).
There is a seven week cycle which includes not only singles and pairs but also team games building team ethics, there is a 29’s competition based on all of the board’s doubles, and an ‘outshot clinic’ which teaches players how to finish the game as quickly as possible.
There is a handicap system that allows the beginner to compete with an elite player and a Darts-athlon that challenges the players to hone their accuracy around the board by playing traditional games such as Shanghai, Golf and Bulls-eyes etc.
With a coach’s assistance even beginners chalk games which improves confidence, their adding and subtraction.
Every dart in the above is recorded with analysis being produced to see where a player may be excelling or needs practice.
Over the past two years the Academy has taken on and shone against the County youth team and dominated numerous regional individual competitions but this all comes at a cost and are forever looking to increase funding which will allow a full darting calendar to be realised.
The Academy has indeed raised over £3000 itself with various events but with average coach travel costing around £600 cannot rely on the generosity of partners.
Over two dozen have now established themselves either in local senior leagues, starred at super league, county or international level and two have joined the ranks of Unicorn, the world’s ultimate darts team, with another due this December. Nearly 90 youngsters have joined the Academy since its inception and with a dedicated band of coaches the doors remain open to youngsters that want to learn one of Britain’s biggest participant sports.
The attached photograph shows most of the squad but being half term unfortunately there were some disappointed absentees.