PDPA Official Coaching News
PDPA COACHING REVIEW OF 2025
The PDPA Level 1 darts coaching course started in March 2025 and what a year it has been. Over this year we have had 8 coaching days in our venues from Derby, Middlesborough and Blackburn.
113 people successfully completed the course to become the first official PDPA/1st4Sport Darts Coaches in the history of the sport. See our coaches register.
Our amazing team of Chris Lovell, Glen Durrant and Jamie Caven have been excellent in planning, delivering and progressing the programme. The feed-back has been outstanding.
As part of the continuation of following our coaches everyone from 2025 will be invited to a follow up day in 2026 where we will look at how our coaches have developed.
Alan Warriner-Little President of the PDPA says: The journey began for the PDPA and more importantly our first 29 ‘Official PDPA Level 1 Coaches’ in March 2025. What an amazing two days we had in Derby we are already looking forward to developing Levels 2 in 2026 and onwards.
These Coaches are unique as they are the first to have an official accreditation in our sport to coach professionally and responsibly with ‘1st4Sport Qualifications’ and ‘UK Coaching’
We look forward to seeing them develop as part of the PDPA’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme, all will be invited to the review day in 2026.
The next dates for 2026 are already being arranged, for the next batch of coaches and will be announced in due course.
WHAT OUR NEWLY CERTIFIED OFFICIAL COACHES SAY
As a darts coach with over 4 years of experience coaching, I left the course feeling like I had learnt a lot from the plethora of darts coaches and players. Having professional players attend the course, showed the intent and dedication from the PDPA to make the course credible amongst the darting community.Thank you” Brian Ivey"
Huge step forward for the sport. We are all committed to its continued growth, and that’s only possible with good coaches to develop talent." Daniel Poole, straight to the point darts.
It's a fantastic course with lots of knowledge and experience. The atmosphere was supportive and engaging throughout the day and everyone listened supported and helped each other to make us become better and qualified coaches in the sport of darts. I would recommend this course to anyone thinking of coaching in this sport. Paula Morgan
“I thought the course was excellent, I was already passionate about darts and growing the game, hence why I started an academy, and this course has opened another door for me in the 1.2.1 coaching aspect of darts. I feel that this qualification will be done the right way and can't wait for level 2” Dan Thomas“
To know that the PDPA is now supporting us darts coaches with these brilliant structured and in-depth courses, makes darts coaching now feel more worthwhile than ever before. The course tutors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the course to help coaches understand more what players are looking fo, and how we the coaches can help deliver them the best coaching possible” Shaun Rogers “
The course was well structured and very informative. It’s given the me confidence to now start my coaching journey. Looking forward to taking the next level” Lorraine Winstanley“
I have played the sport of darts for many years and my career is slowly coming to an end. I was looking to still be involved in the game I saw that the PDPA was offering this great opportunity to become and accredited Level 1 Coach and I thought that this would perfectly fit what I was looking for. I would recommend to anyone to attend the course that wants to still be active in Darts after they have finished playing" John O’Shea
“Great Course, very informative but in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Everyone was made to feel so welcome, and the tutors were excellent both in experience and delivery” Doug Thoburn“
I found the course, at first very welcoming and everyone settled in really quick among likeminded people, it was very evident that everyone there was very driven to helping the sport progress by wanting to develop it future/continued growth, that was a great feeling.
The comradery, the teaching aspect and business side of things was explained very well and clearly, which to me personally is very important as I can sometimes be not too well versed in some of those things, but I left confident knowing what bases I need to cover whilst also feeling that if I ran into a bump on the road I know where to go an feel comfortable doing so.
To finish, to me when I first started my Darts journey in 2006 I soon learned (or so i thought) that something like this course was like a pipe dream, it’s one of those "it'll never happen" "unsustainable" and for years it remained that way but here we are nearly 20 years on and it's happening and it’s just so special to be a part of it.” James Webster
I feel that this course is a must for anyone looking to further themselves as a darts coach or mentor! We are looking to build a path for coaches within darts and this is the perfect first step towards that! With the backing from the PDPA I feel more confident within myself and my coaching! I can't wait for level 2! Sam Squire
PDPA COACHING DATES 2026
NOTE: For the dates in 2026 please contact Nicola at [email protected] please also note that Level 2 dates will be announced in early 2026.
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