Objectives

• Organize all American dart leagues under ONE sanctioning body.
• Obtain sponsors to help promote the game of American darts.
• Define a set of rules that will enable all leagues and tournaments to be consistent in all events and assets of the game.
• Maintain a website to post statistics and news from all leagues and league members.
• Establish standards for ABDA league qualifier and National Championship Tournaments.
• Set dates, formats and locations for upcoming tournaments.
• Outline geographical regions and appoint regional directors to represent each region.

By-Laws

• End-grain basswood dartboards will be the official boards of the ABDA for all tournaments and sanctioned events. Darto, Deco, Widdy (wood), Dart Shark and Pro-Dart are acceptable boards.
• Wooden dartboards will have a red cork center and shall meet the established standards set for classic American boards.
• Teams/shooters may use the dart brand (Apex, Darto, Widdy) of their choice. Players on the same team are not required to use the same brand of dart. Team shooters are responsible for changing out darts when it is their turn to shoot. If opposing team chooses to use a different brand of darts for a match, then it is the lead-off shooter’s responsibility to change out the darts each inning.
• The center of the cork will be measured at five feet and three inches (5’-3”) from the floor to the center of the cork.
• The toe-board shall be made of wood with a radius of no more than four feet (4’-0”) wide and will measure seven feet and three inches (7’-3”) from the face of the dartboard and or 107.5 inches from the center of the cork to the outside radius of the toe board. This measurement is diagonal.
• A light will be inserted into the top housing of the dartboard holder. This light must not reflect into a shooter’s view of the board.
• All shooters must have their league averages for the last two (2) years (730 days) posted online, and the link must be accessible from the ABDA Player Averages Verification in order to have a starting qualifying average for participation in tournaments. Previous ABDA National Championships and/or PA State Dart Tournament averages for the last two (2) years will also be factored into determining an entering average for all shooters. The practice of dropping tenths of a point will apply to the final entering average only. The legitimacy of player averages may be disputed or upheld by the tournament director.

National Championships Eligibility

• An ABDA Player ID is required.
• Must be 21 years of age or accompanied by a parent/guardian if under 21. Minimum age is 16.
• Traveling leagues must keep current and correct averages.
• House leagues must keep current and correct averages.
• All shooters must provide a complete list of the averages (online) from the league(s) in which he/she participates.
• It is the responsibility of the tournament director to either accept or decline a shooter’s eligibility.
• Provide some form of identification if the tournament director requests it.
• A 24-game minimum database average is required to be eligible for A.B.D.A. Nationals.
• All current season league(s) average update must be submitted to the American Darts Database prior to the start of the A.B.D.A. National Championships.
• If team has not prepaid their entry fee, it is expected that team/shooters pay the entry fee IMMEDIATELY upon check-in on the day of the tournament.

Rules of Tournament Play

• Each team is allowed a substitute (4th player) as long as the player is a compribable replacement and does not exceed the division cap that the team is entered in.
• A player that has participated any division is not permitted to re-enter the tournament once on another team once that players original team has been eliminated. This is simply common sense.
• A player/team is only allowed to re-enter a division (mainly B/C qualifier) only if their team has been eliminated.
• The team/player is permitted to attempt to qualify on another date only if there is an opening for re-entry. Once a player is qualified on a team…they are not permitted to participate on any other qualified team or attempt to qualify on a team that has not participated yet.
• Registration into two different divisions by a player on the same day is not permitted at any time. A player can only participate in one division per day. The integrity of tournament brackets and divisions will not be compromised as a timeline is needed to be adhered to, so that divisional brackets can be completed in a timely manner.
• Prior to the beginning of a match, a coin toss will determine which team will throw bullseye to determine choice of order in Game #1. Closest dart to bullseye has choice at order. Losing team of Game #1 will have choice of order for Game #2. If a match goes to Game #3, the losing team of Game #2 has choice at bullseye. Closest dart to bullseye has choice at order for Game #3. Cork always beats cork. All cork shots need to stick. If your dart falls out, you get to shoot again! (NOTE: This rule does not apply to match play! Darts must stick during match play. Fallen darts may not be shot again, and no points are scored for fallen darts).
• To begin the first game of a match, all shooters are permitted to throw three (3) practice darts at any inning except the 1st inning (you must verbally announce to a shooter on opposing team or the score keeper that you will take (“throw away”) three practice darts). If a dart hits the first inning, the score will count.
• Scoring/calling of game darts. A shooter is required to approach dartboard and then CALL the darts (points). Do not touch, move, bend or remove the darts PRIOR to calling the points. Once points are called, the darts can be removed. This will give a shooter on opposing team the opportunity to view any dart points that may be in question.
• Any shooter that shoots the wrong inning will forfeit the dart(s)/point(s) thrown in the wrong inning. Any shooter that shoots out of turn (Team Play) will forfeit any points he/she scored that inning.
• Prior to the start of the match, teams must reach agreement regarding leaving the toe-board If one team decides that leaving the toe-board is not an option, then both teams must stay within the limits of the toe-board.
• First name and last name is required on all scoresheets. The winning team score for each game must be circled on the score sheet.
• Both teams in a match are responsible for keeping the scores of the games and match, and for returning the scoresheet back to tournament official(s). It is the responsibility of all shooters to check scoring accuracy throughout the match in progress. Any scoring mistakes by a shooter or scorekeeper are to be agreed upon and fixed prior to starting the next game. Once the next game has started, the previous game scores becomes valid and final. The final scoresheet must be signed by both team captains at the end of the match. Once the scoresheets are turned into the tournament official(s), the match is valid and final.

Unacceptable Behavior

The ABDA reserves the right to revoke player privileges for the following infractions:

• Non-payment for entry into an A.B.D.A. National event. If team/shooters knowingly fail to honor their commitment to pay the entry fee the day of the tournament.
• Impeding the progress of the tournament by prolonging a disagreement, causing a disruption, unruly behavior, or being argumentative with a tournament staff member.
• Harassing a shooter/team, or tournament official.
• Any unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Altercation (fighting).
• Cheating when calling points or altering a scoresheet.
• Property damage inside or outside the facility.
• Submitting a false shooter, team, league or other tournament statistic.
• Bringing outside alcohol into the establishment (LCB Violation).
• And all related offenses and or if A.B.D.A. staff determines inappropriate actions/behavior is detrimental.