Dartitis is a mental condition that affects some darts players, making it hard for them to let go of the dart when they throw. Kevin Painter, a former professional darts champion with nearly 40 years of experience, recently faced this tough issue. Even though he has won over £900,000 in prizes, he found himself unable to release the dart during a match. He described the feeling as shocking, saying his arm just wouldn’t move. According to Dr. Linda Duffy, a psychology professor, dartitis is all in the mind and can happen to anyone, no matter how skilled they are.

Players who suffer from dartitis have different experiences. Jack Langston, a darts referee and content creator, first noticed the problem when he was just 12 years old. At first, he only had a small pause before throwing the dart, but soon it got so bad that it took him a whole minute to throw three darts. By the time he was 13, he felt he had to quit darts because he was so frustrated by not being able to beat players he knew he could win against. The mental battle that comes with dartitis can be really tough, leading to feelings of defeat and anger.

There isn’t one clear reason why dartitis happens, but many players think it starts from anxiety and fear of failing. Dr. Duffy points out that dartitis isn’t just a darts problem; it’s a mental issue similar to other anxiety disorders. She suggests cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a good way to help players deal with it, encouraging them to see dartitis as a challenge they can overcome. Kevin Painter has been trying different therapies, including hypnotherapy, to help him get past this condition.

Hypnotherapy, led by Chris O’Connor, focuses on building confidence and motivation in players dealing with dartitis. In these sessions, clients go into a trance and imagine themselves doing better in their game. After eight sessions, Painter thought he had beaten dartitis, but it came back during a televised match, leaving him disappointed again. He is still working with O’Connor to find a lasting solution, showing how tough this mental health issue can be for many players. On the other hand, Jack Langston found success by switching to throwing darts with his left hand, which helped him compete well without needing alcohol to calm his nerves. Both players emphasize the importance of support and talking about mental health challenges in sports.

Original news source: Dartitis: The condition where you try to throw a dart – but can’t (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the article (e.g., “dartitis,” “anxiety,” “confidence,” “hypnotherapy”). The other groups will guess the word or phrase being acted out.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Prepare a series of statements related to mental health in sports (e.g., “Mental health issues are often stigmatized in sports,” “Athletes should openly discuss their mental health challenges”). Have students walk around the room, asking their classmates to agree or disagree with each statement, and note the number of responses.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: In pairs, students will create a mind map on a large sheet of paper that connects key concepts from the article, such as “dartitis,” “mental health,” “treatment methods,” and “personal experiences.” They will then present their mind map to the class.

– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: Students will work in pairs. One student will have one minute to summarize a specific section of the article, while the other listens. After one minute, they will switch roles. Encourage them to focus on key points and main ideas.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Students will discuss in small groups what they think the future holds for players dealing with dartitis. They should consider advancements in treatment, changes in mental health awareness in sports, and how players might cope with the condition. Each group will then share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is dartitis and how does it affect darts players?
2. How did Kevin Painter describe his experience with dartitis during a match?
3. What was Jack Langston’s experience with dartitis when he was younger?
4. According to Dr. Linda Duffy, what is one possible cause of dartitis?
5. What type of therapy does Dr. Duffy suggest for players suffering from dartitis?
6. How did hypnotherapy help Kevin Painter in dealing with dartitis?
7. What change did Jack Langston make to overcome his dartitis, and how did it help him?
8. Why do both players believe it’s important to talk about mental health challenges in sports?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Dartitis is a mental (1)______ that (2)______ some darts players, making it hard for them to let go of the dart when they throw. Kevin Painter, a former professional darts champion with nearly 40 years of experience, recently faced this (3)______ issue. Even though he has won over £900,000 in prizes, he found himself unable to release the dart during a match. He described the feeling as shocking, saying his arm just wouldn’t move. According to Dr. (4)______ Duffy, a psychology professor, dartitis is all in the mind and can happen to anyone, no matter how skilled they are.

Players who suffer from dartitis have different experiences. Jack Langston, a darts (5)______ and content creator, first noticed the (6)______ when he was just 12 years old. At first, he only had a small pause before throwing the dart, but soon it got so bad that it took him a whole minute to throw three darts. By the time he was 13, he felt he had to quit darts because he was so frustrated by not being able to beat players he knew he could win against. The mental battle that comes with dartitis can be really tough, (7)______ to feelings of defeat and anger.

There isn’t one clear (8)______ why dartitis happens, but many players think it starts from anxiety and fear of failing. Dr. Duffy points out that dartitis isn’t just a darts problem; it’s a mental issue similar to other anxiety disorders. She suggests cognitive (9)______ therapy (CBT) as a good way to help players deal with it, encouraging them to see dartitis as a challenge they can overcome. Kevin Painter has been (10)______ different therapies, (11)______ hypnotherapy, to help him get past this condition.

Hypnotherapy, led by Chris O’Connor, focuses on building (12)______ and motivation in players dealing with dartitis. In these sessions, clients go into a trance and imagine themselves doing better in their game. After eight sessions, Painter thought he had beaten dartitis, but it came back during a televised (13)______, (14)______ him (15)______ again. He is still working with O’Connor to find a lasting solution, showing how tough this mental health issue can be for many (16)______. On the other hand, Jack Langston found success by switching to throwing darts with his left hand, which helped him compete well without needing alcohol to calm his nerves. Both players emphasize the importance of support and talking about mental health challenges in sports.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on mental health issues in sports?
2. How would you feel if you faced a mental block while doing something you love?
3. Do you think anxiety can affect performance in sports? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever experienced a situation where you felt unable to perform due to nerves? What happened?
5. What is a sport that you think requires a lot of mental strength, and why?
6. How do you think players can overcome mental challenges in sports?
7. Do you like the idea of using hypnotherapy to improve performance? Why or why not?
8. What is a time when you had to overcome a fear or anxiety? What did you do?
9. How important do you think it is to talk about mental health in sports?
10. Do you think switching strategies, like Jack Langston did, is a good way to deal with mental blocks? Why?
11. How would you feel if you were in a situation where you had to quit something you love because of mental struggles?
12. Do you believe that support from friends and family can help someone dealing with mental health issues? Why or why not?
13. What is your opinion on the idea that anyone can experience mental blocks, no matter how skilled they are?
14. How would you feel if you were a professional athlete facing a mental health challenge publicly?
15. Do you think more athletes should share their mental health stories? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. dartitis
2. condition
3. release
4. shocking
5. anxiety
6. cognitive
7. behavioral
8. therapy
9. hypnotherapy
10. trance
11. motivation
12. televised
13. compete
14. emphasize
15. challenges

Meanings:
(A) Very surprising or upsetting
(B) Shown on TV
(C) A type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help people
(D) A state of health or a problem affecting the way someone feels or acts
(E) The reason or drive to do something
(F) To try to win against others
(G) Difficult situations that require effort to overcome
(H) To let go of something
(I) Related to thinking or understanding
(J) A feeling of worry or fear about what might happen
(K) To give special importance to something
(L) Treatment to help someone feel better
(M) A mental issue that makes it hard for darts players to let go of the dart
(N) A state of being deeply relaxed and focused
(O) Related to how people act
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What mental condition affects some darts players, making it hard for them to let go of the dart?
(a) Dartitis
(b) Anxiety
(c) Depression
(d) Stress

2. Who is Kevin Painter?
(a) A darts referee
(b) A psychology professor
(c) A former professional darts champion
(d) A darts coach

3. What did Dr. Linda Duffy say about dartitis?
(a) It only affects beginners
(b) It is caused by physical injuries
(c) It can be cured with medication
(d) It is a mental issue similar to other anxiety disorders

4. What therapy does Dr. Duffy suggest for players dealing with dartitis?
(a) Medication
(b) Physical therapy
(c) Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
(d) Group therapy

5. What did Jack Langston initially experience when he started having dartitis?
(a) Pain in his arm
(b) A small pause before throwing the dart
(c) Increased accuracy
(d) No issues at all

6. How did Kevin Painter try to overcome his dartitis?
(a) By quitting darts altogether
(b) By trying different therapies, including hypnotherapy
(c) By practicing more
(d) By changing his diet

7. What technique does hypnotherapy focus on for players with dartitis?
(a) Strengthening physical skills
(b) Improving concentration
(c) Reducing practice time
(d) Building confidence and motivation

8. What solution did Jack Langston find to help him compete better?
(a) Switching to throwing darts with his left hand
(b) Using alcohol to calm his nerves
(c) Quitting darts completely
(d) Practicing alone without support

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Kevin Painter, a former professional darts champion, has not struggled with dartitis despite winning over £900,000 in prizes.
2. Jack Langston did not find success in overcoming his dartitis by switching to throwing darts with his left hand.
3. Dr. Linda Duffy, a psychology professor, explains that dartitis can affect anyone, regardless of their skill level.
4. Jack Langston first noticed his dartitis symptoms at the age of 12, which worsened over time.
5. Dartitis is believed to be linked to anxiety and fear of failure, similar to other anxiety disorders.
6. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is not suggested as an effective way to help players cope with dartitis.
7. Dartitis is a physical condition that makes it difficult for darts players to release the dart when throwing.
8. The mental struggle that comes with dartitis can lead to feelings of defeat and frustration for players.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What is dartitis and how does it affect darts players?
2. How did Kevin Painter describe his experience with dartitis during a match?
3. What are some possible reasons why dartitis occurs, according to the article?
4. What type of therapy does Dr. Duffy suggest to help players with dartitis?
5. How did Jack Langston find a way to cope with his dartitis?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is dartitis and how does it affect darts players?
Dartitis is a mental condition that makes it difficult for darts players to let go of the dart when they throw. It can lead to anxiety and frustration, affecting their performance.

2. How did Kevin Painter describe his experience with dartitis during a match?
Kevin Painter described his experience as shocking, saying his arm just wouldn’t move, making it impossible for him to release the dart during a match.

3. What was Jack Langston’s experience with dartitis when he was younger?
Jack Langston first noticed dartitis at 12 years old, starting with a small pause before throwing. It worsened to the point where it took him a whole minute to throw three darts, leading him to quit darts by age 13 due to frustration.

4. According to Dr. Linda Duffy, what is one possible cause of dartitis?
Dr. Linda Duffy suggests that dartitis may start from anxiety and fear of failing, which can affect anyone regardless of their skill level.

5. What type of therapy does Dr. Duffy suggest for players suffering from dartitis?
Dr. Duffy suggests cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a good way for players to deal with dartitis, encouraging them to see it as a challenge to overcome.

6. How did hypnotherapy help Kevin Painter in dealing with dartitis?
Hypnotherapy helped Kevin Painter by focusing on building his confidence and motivation. After eight sessions, he felt he had beaten dartitis, although it returned during a televised match.

7. What change did Jack Langston make to overcome his dartitis, and how did it help him?
Jack Langston switched to throwing darts with his left hand, which allowed him to compete well without needing alcohol to calm his nerves, helping him manage his dartitis.

8. Why do both players believe it’s important to talk about mental health challenges in sports?
Both players emphasize the importance of support and discussing mental health challenges to help others understand and cope with similar issues in sports.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) condition
(2) affects
(3) tough
(4) Linda
(5) referee
(6) problem
(7) leading
(8) reason
(9) behavioral
(10) trying
(11) including
(12) confidence
(13) match
(14) leaving
(15) disappointed
(16) players
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. dartitis
Answer: (M) A mental issue that makes it hard for darts players to let go of the dart

2. condition
Answer: (D) A state of health or a problem affecting the way someone feels or acts

3. release
Answer: (H) To let go of something

4. shocking
Answer: (A) Very surprising or upsetting

5. anxiety
Answer: (J) A feeling of worry or fear about what might happen

6. cognitive
Answer: (I) Related to thinking or understanding

7. behavioral
Answer: (O) Related to how people act

8. therapy
Answer: (L) Treatment to help someone feel better

9. hypnotherapy
Answer: (C) A type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help people

10. trance
Answer: (N) A state of being deeply relaxed and focused

11. motivation
Answer: (E) The reason or drive to do something

12. televised
Answer: (B) Shown on TV

13. compete
Answer: (F) To try to win against others

14. emphasize
Answer: (K) To give special importance to something

15. challenges
Answer: (G) Difficult situations that require effort to overcome
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What mental condition affects some darts players, making it hard for them to let go of the dart?
Answer: (a) Dartitis

2. Who is Kevin Painter?
Answer: (c) A former professional darts champion

3. What did Dr. Linda Duffy say about dartitis?
Answer: (d) It is a mental issue similar to other anxiety disorders

4. What therapy does Dr. Duffy suggest for players dealing with dartitis?
Answer: (c) Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

5. What did Jack Langston initially experience when he started having dartitis?
Answer: (b) A small pause before throwing the dart

6. How did Kevin Painter try to overcome his dartitis?
Answer: (b) By trying different therapies, including hypnotherapy

7. What technique does hypnotherapy focus on for players with dartitis?
Answer: (d) Building confidence and motivation

8. What solution did Jack Langston find to help him compete better?
Answer: (a) Switching to throwing darts with his left hand
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Kevin Painter, a former professional darts champion, has not struggled with dartitis despite winning over £900,000 in prizes. (Answer: False)
2. Jack Langston did not find success in overcoming his dartitis by switching to throwing darts with his left hand. (Answer: False)
3. Dr. Linda Duffy, a psychology professor, explains that dartitis can affect anyone, regardless of their skill level. (Answer: True)
4. Jack Langston first noticed his dartitis symptoms at the age of 12, which worsened over time. (Answer: True)
5. Dartitis is believed to be linked to anxiety and fear of failure, similar to other anxiety disorders. (Answer: True)
6. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is not suggested as an effective way to help players cope with dartitis. (Answer: False)
7. Dartitis is a physical condition that makes it difficult for darts players to release the dart when throwing. (Answer: False)
8. The mental struggle that comes with dartitis can lead to feelings of defeat and frustration for players. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧