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The Professional Darts Corporation and Unicorn Darts have teamed up with Stockport College to launch the first Professional Darts Academy.
The unique darts academy will be part of Stockport College’s highly successful Academy of Sport, and based at the Stockport College town centre campus.
Equipped with Unicorn playing equipment, the Darts Academy will offer professional coaching for students alongside full-time education within Stockport College.
Stockport College Academy of Sport, Steve Mort, said “Due to the seven year success of our Academy of Sport we felt that there was a unique opportunity to create the first ever professional Darts Academy in partnership with the PDC and sponsored by Unicorn”.
“Players within the professional Darts Academy will benefit from full-time education and, in addition, from professional coaching in the sport”.
Mort added, “The initial intake of players will be 16-19-year olds but as the academy develops we plan to broaden the age group of players who can join us”.
PDC Director, Rod Harrington, who attended the launch of the Darts Academy, along with leading players Colin Osborne and Wes Newton, said “This is a very important step. This is the first ever professional Darts Academy and we hope others will follow the lead of Stockport College Academy of Sport”.
"Development of future talent is something the PDC take seriously in ensuring the ongoing growth of professional darts around the world"
Rod Harrington, Director of the PDC
The Stockport College Darts Academy will:
- Provide participants aged 16-19 with the best opportunity to develop and excel while continuing their full-time education
- Provide participants with up to eight hours per week of practice, professional coaching and competition
- Provide competition in regional and national events
- Attendance at official PDC events.
PDC director , Rod Harrington, enthused on the possibilities an academy such as this could offer a young darts player.
He pointed out that in addition to specific darts coaching, there is an opportunity here to give the young players an “all-round” darting education.
This could extend to such things as how to handle themselves at interviews and how to manage their professional careers should they wish to progress to the pro tour.
Further information about the professional Darts Academy at Stockport College Academy of Sport can be found at www.stockport.ac.uk/sport, or via 0161 958 3630.
The players and officials of the darts academy were invited to attend the recent PDC Players Championship event in Derby. Click here for further details of their unique visit, and for coverage of further exciting events planned for the academy players.
