In a move that will help ensure the future of the sport, Winmau, the world’s leading darts brand, has announced a five-year sponsorship deal of the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC).
The company, which has supported the JDC since 2014, will provide financial support, equipment for JDC Darts Academies and assistance with marketing and publicity.
Formed in 2010 by PDC star Steve Brown, the JDC is aimed at boys and girls aged between eight and 18 years old and costs just £15 to join. Since then, the organisation has grown from its first JDC Academy in Brown’s home town of Bristol to a network of 12. Each academy is run by experienced CRB/DBS checked coaches, many with the involvement of current PDC stars, such as the Jamie Caven Darts Academy in Derby.
To encourage their enthusiasm for the sport, as well as their development, the academies use a unique scoring system that is endorsed by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) to accurately measure a child’s ability and enable players of mixed ages and abilities to play against each other. The players are also awarded different coloured shirts to grade their level of ability.
"The scoring system helps level the field for the kids,” says Steve Brown, who is also Chairman of the JDC. "It stops weaker players getting discouraged by continually losing to much better or older players, and means that better players have to play their best to win. The shirt system provides them with a sense of achievement and progress – a little like the coloured belt system in judo or karate,” he adds.
A fundamental element of the JDC’s philosophy is to replicate elements of the professional game. As a result, the organisation launched the JDC Tour in 2015 – a series of tournaments held across the country – backed by Winmau. Like their adult professional counterparts, the players compete for cash prizes and ranking points. The 2016 JDC Tour will culminate in a £1,000 first prize final which will be held on the main stage at Alexandra Palace during the William Hill PDC World Darts Championships in December.
This year also saw the inaugural JDC European Championship played over three days at Pontins Brean Sands in Somerset. The event, which included players from The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, was won by Stoke-on-Trent’s 16 year-old Jim Moston who picked up the top prize of £2,000.
"The standard of play amongst JDC players has to be seen to be believed,” says Steve Brown. "We have young players competing alongside adults in leagues across the country, as well as at County and international level. Being an eight to 18 year-old today is tough. Darts not only provides a focus for their energies and enthusiasm but also, with the increasing amount of money in the professional game, a potential career opportunity as well.”
Winmau’s Sales and Marketing Director, Ian Flack, added: "I know it is a cliché, but the youngsters are the future of our sport, and supporting players of all ages and levels of ability is deep rooted in our company philosophy. The JDC, and everyone involved in it, work tirelessly and selflessly to encourage juniors to take up the sport and to play professionally and fairly. We’re proud to be associated with the JDC and to be able to contribute to its continued success.”
More information on the Junior Darts Corporation, as well as information on JDC Academies near you, can be found at: www.juniordarts.com
You can follow the JDC on Twitter (@JDCdarts) and Facebook.
contribute to its continued success.”
More information on the Junior Darts Corporation, as well as information on JDC Academies near you, can be found at: www.juniordarts.com
You can follow the JDC on Twitter (@JDCdarts) and Facebook.
