your parents that you have nothing to do all day? Does the thought of the next school term already seem appealing? Well, if that's the case then a sporting organisation that will help you develop your hand/eye coordination skills is looking for you. And the Bermuda Darts Association could also provide you with an opportunity to travel overseas in international competition. The organisation is currently on a recruitment drive and is particularly keen to get youngsters interested in the sport.

And they feel it is important to dispel the view that the game is only played by old men in bars.

Association president Steve Hickmont said: "It was decided that the only way that we could encourage youngsters to participate in this sport was to restructure the way of thinking about the game.'' The youth programme is split between players over and under the age of eleven and has already attracted the attention of 30 youngsters -- some as young as seven -- many of whom are adopting the sport from their parents.

Mr. Hickmott noted that the programme came about as a result of several association members attending the Caribbean Championships. They noticed that many of the other teams had younger members in the competition.

"We promote darts as a game that could be played by anyone regardless of age sex, physique,'' he said.

"It also encourages the use of very quick mental arithmetic, requires skill and lots of practice, and offers the opportunity to travel.

"It is very inexpensive to play, but above all can be a lot of fun.

"We decided that for all of our youth events there would be no smoking nor drinking allowed in the playing area,'' he added.

The association is looking for a variety of players from different circles, Mr. Hickmott said.

There will be a darts World Cup in South Africa this October, and in June of 2000 the Caribbean Championships will be held in Barbados. It is possible that some local youngsters, particularly girls may be selected to represent Bermuda.

"As long as they are members of the Bermuda Darts Association, they are eligible for a spot on the team,'' Mr. Hickmott said.

The next World Cup in 2001 in England is also one of Mr. Hickmott's goals.

"We'd like to send a team to that,'' he said.

If you are interested in becoming a darts champion contact the Bermuda Darts Association on 232-0065.

ERROR RG P7 7.8.1999 Correction A story in last week's Young Observer on the Bermuda Darts Association gave the wrong phone number. The Association's president Steve Hickmott can be reached on 234-0065.