Entering your child into darts tournaments depends on their age and skill level. The pathway usually starts with local “Open” events and moves toward national tours like the JDC or PDC.
Beginner & Intermediate (Ages 8–18)
The Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) is the main organiser for youth tournaments in the UK.
How to enter: Most JDC event registrations are handled through DartsAtlas, a platform where you can view upcoming dates and pay entry fees online (see below)
JDC Volts Series: These are regional “entry-level” tournaments open to anyone aged 17 and under. You don’t need to be an academy member to enter. They cost around £6 per event and use a “round-robin” format so players get multiple games regardless of results.
JDC Foundation Tour: This is the next step up. It’s an “Open” tour for players aged 10–18. You can enter individual weekends without a full membership, though a JDC membership (approx. £20) makes entry fees cheaper.
Advanced & Aspirant Pros (Ages 16–23)
If your child is 16 or older, they can enter the PDC Winmau Development Tour. This is the professional pathway for young players.
- Registration: New players must register with the PDC Online Entry System.
- Cost: Entry is typically £30 per event.
- Benefits: Success on this tour can lead to a PDC Tour Card (pro status) or a spot in the PDC World Darts Championship.
Essential Tournament Rules
Before heading to their first competition, keep these standard requirements in mind:
- Parental Supervision: Players under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire event.
- Dress Code: “Proper” darts attire is usually required for tour events (collared polo/darts shirt, plain black trousers, and dark shoes). Football shirts are strictly banned.
- Marking (Scoring): In many junior tournaments, players are expected to “mark” (score) the next match on their board after they lose. It’s a good idea for them to practice manual or tablet-based scoring beforehand.
- Alcohol Policy: There is a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol consumption by any player in junior events.
How To Find Local Tournaments
Darts Atlas is a good place to start
is a comprehensive digital platform used to manage and play in darts competitions.
It acts as a “one-stop shop” for players, organisers, and venues to handle everything from Junior tournaments and local pub leagues to professional-pathway tournaments.
Key Features for Players
- Tournament Registration: It is the primary tool for entering events hosted by the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) and the Amateur Darts Circuit (ADC).
- Stat Tracking: Once you create a free account, the system keeps a “lifetime” record of your match statistics, including averages, checkout percentages, and ranking points.
- Digital Scoreboard: Players use it at the oche (often on a tablet) to input scores. It automatically calculates subtotals and suggests checkouts.
- Live Updates: You can see tournament brackets, live scores from other boards, and updated league tables in real-time.
Why You Need It
If your child wants to enter serious youth tournaments (like the JDC Volts mentioned earlier), a Darts Atlas account is usually mandatory. It allows organisers to:
- Automate Brackets: Instantly generate knockout or round-robin draws.
- Assign Markers: Automatically notify players which board they need to score (mark) next.
- Send Notifications: Some events use it to send SMS alerts to players when their match is about to start.
Cost
- Basic Account: Free for players to create and use for entering most events.
- Premium Options: There are paid memberships (around £25/year) that offer extra features like walk-on song embeds, social media links, and more detailed practice stats.
- Tournament Fees: While the account is free, individual tournaments will still have their own entry fees (e.g., £6–£10) paid through the platform when entering/registering for a tournament.