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)

– 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.

Dartitis is a mental ? that ? 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 ? 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. ? 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 ? and content creator, first noticed the ? 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, ? to feelings of defeat and anger. There isn’t one clear ? 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 ? 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 ? different therapies, ? hypnotherapy, to help him get past this condition. Hypnotherapy, led by Chris O'Connor, focuses on building ? 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 ?, ? him ? again. He is still working with O'Connor to find a lasting solution, showing how tough this mental health issue can be for many ?. 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.

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?

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