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Professionals - Every major sport has them and organized darts is no exception. On Wednesday, August 6th, the only Professionals in our sport will compete at the beautiful Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida in the second ADA Pro Darts Championship.
Professionals – How can the ADA claim to have the only Pro’s in our sport? Easy, before the Professional Darter Certification Program (PDCP), the only pros in darts were self-proclaimed. Or, in soft-tip leagues, were appointed by dart machine manufacturers based on their own weekend tournaments- And these pros were only recognized by the manufacturer when they were playing on their machines, nowhere else. Not much to write home about, huh?
Professionals – the term and its meaning are easily defined in sports. Let’s first look at some of the defining characteristics of Professionals and then take a look at the ADA Certified Professional Darters to see how closely they match the definition of professionals. The most prominent defining features of professionals are dedication and commitment to their sport. Then there is always a contract between the individual professional and a licensing and governing organization. This contract specifies the terms under which the professional may play the sport. A standard of expectations and level of competence in the sport is usually spelled out in the contract. There is also generally a code of conduct to which the professional is required to adhere.
Professionals – At the ADA there are 114 Professional Darters that are certified in 2008, a continued increase since the PDCP was introduced just 3 years ago. So what does it take to become a Pro? Being an ADA member comes first. Then qualifying through weekly American Dart League play in Open Divisions is next. A minimum number of 501 games are required and, of course, your competitive play must be of a higher ability than that of the average ADA member. Certainly there are others and the complete criteria can be found at the PDCP Rules and Regulations at the ADA web site (see link at the end of the article).
Professionals – What is often overlooked is that most sports professionals love practicing their skills and playing their sport. They have fun competing. Anyone who was present at the First ADA Professional Darts Championship can attest to the fact that ADA Pro’s have a great time competing and socializing. And the ADA, as the national licensing and governing body of their sport, takes great care – like all governing bodies of major American sports - to secure venues and accommodations that reflect the spirit and quality of professional darts. The First ADA Professional Darts Championship took place at the renowned Hilton Riverside, in New Orleans. This 2007 event and venue were huge successes and in the intervening year, the ADA Pro Darter program has really taken off (phenomenally, according to historical comparisons with the certification programs of other major American sports, in particular the half-century old PBA pro certification program).
The 2008 venue for the ADA Professional Darts Championship is the luxurious and hospitable Wyndham Orlando Resort. The Wyndham Resort complex is replete with shops and restaurants, poolside bars and family entertainment activities. Something for everyone, it seems, and if that’s not enough, the world’s largest theme parks right outside the gates.
The Wyndham hosted the ADA National Championship last year has proven to be not only a world-class resort, but also a world-class darts venue. At the ADA Nationals in 2007, the Wyndham set up dart courts beside within one of its poolside bars to accommodate ADA members who wished to hone their skills and have fun in the off hours of the Championship. Darts events don’t get much better than that!
Professionals – Where do you find them? If they are professional darters, you will find them at the Wyndham Orlando on Wednesday, August 6, 2008. If you are not one of them, come to see what the excitement is all about. Join the competition in the Pro/Am event, team up with an ADA Pro Darter to experience a little of what it means to be part of the ADA professional Darters program.
Where else are the Pros? Look no further than the ADA web site. You’ll find them all listed there and some with pictured profiles.
Professional Darter Certification Program:
http://www.adadarters.com/prodarter-program.html
Pro Darts Championship II poster:
http://www.adadarters.com/series/2008/nc/documents/Pro Darts poster.pdf
Pro Darts Championship Pro/Am Entry Form
http://www.adadarters.com/series/2008/nc/documents/Entry form.pdf
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