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🏛️Official — WDF
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Precision Sports
1–2 players
indoor
dart, target
7 essential rules
The World Darts Federation (WDF) is recognised as the governing body for the sport of darts worldwide and is a full member of both GAISF (the Global Association of International Sports Federations) and AIMS (the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport). All international darts tournam...
Rule 1.02 requires that all darts be thrown deliberately, one at a time, by and from the hand, with the needlepoint aimed toward the face of the dartboard. A dart not thrown in this manner is declared a "foul throw" and does not count for that leg, set, or match.
Section 6 of the WDF Playing Rules, "Board Setup and Oche Dimensions," fixes the exact geometry of a legal darts setup. Rule 6.01 requires the dartboard to be fixed so that the vertical height from...
Four match officials are formally defined: the Referee, the person appointed to take charge of match play at a matchboard or on stage (who may also act as Marker or Caller); the Caller, who announces scores as they are made during match play; the ...
Shake hands after the match
Players conventionally shake hands at the end of a match, and the loser typically congratulates the winner. This is a customary courtesy at every level, from pub leagues to televised events, and is not required by the official rules.
Stay quiet and still while an opponent throws
Opponents and spectators are expected to stay silent and stand still behind or beside the thrower, out of the thrower's line of sight, until the darts are thrown. Deliberately distracting a player is regarded as poor sportsmanship.
Written conduct rules cover deliberate distraction, but the courtesy of standing still and silent is a custom players observe well beyond what is formally enforced.
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Rule 1.04 provides that if a player, during a throw, touches any dart already in the dartboard, that throw is deemed completed. Rule 1.05 states that a dart bouncing off or falling out of the board shall not be re-thrown, and Rule 1.06 provides th...
Rule 3.02 provides that a dart only scores if its point remains in or touches the face of the dartboard, within the outer double wire, until after the throw has been completed and the score has been called and recorded on the scoreboard. Rule 3.03...
Dartboard abuse (Rule 1.08): A player who deliberately abuses the dartboard while retrieving darts is given a verbal warning by the match Referee. A second incident in the same match draws a further warning; a third incident causes the player to forfeit that leg, set, or match.
Every dart used in WDF play carries a metallic needle-shaped point (Rule 1.01), and Rule 1.02 requires that darts be thrown deliberately, one at a time, with the needlepoint aimed at the face of the board — a throw made in any other manner is a fo...