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The Origin of Darts

There are a lot of different stories out there about darts and their origin, but most historical reports confirm that darts were invented when King Henry VIII was in power. It is thought that he wanted his archers to be able to practice year-round, ensuring that they would be prepared for battle at a moment’s notice. While practicing, the archers started tossing their arrows to see who could throw the most accurately. Unfavorable Weather Changes Things England’s unfavorable weather sent the king’s archers indoors to the warmth of a local pub. They shortened the arrows to handle them better and to make the game easier to play inside. Before long, the upper class became interested in displaying their dart-throwing skills, so the game started to catch on. The Founding of the National Darts Association In 1924, the National Darts Association was founded in London. Its founding occurred at the same time that playing darts was becoming more popular. This was when people started recognizing it as a sport. The National Darts Association established rules and regulations for the new sport. Toward the end of World War I, pubs around England set up dart teams. They also held competitions regularly with...