Encouraging Players To Win

For most players a little gentle coaxing can sometimes do the trick and encourage them to get that all important double at the end to finish. It is all too easy to get stressed out in the heat of the game with team members shouting at you to “Pull your finger out and get the double,” especially if the match depends on your leg. Some players react well to the added adrenalin of the moment, but for some they need to pause a moment and relax. One of my mates, John Fawdrey needs encouragement in another way. All you have to do is say, “I’ll buy you a pint if you get this and he invariably does! I remember some years ago, in one game he broke with 60 followed by a nice little 81 to leave 160. Like an idiot I had to shout the magic words, “I’ll buy you a pint if you get this!” Of course he did, 9 darts, brilliant, but for other players encouragement can take another form. SEX.

Some moths ago, at a pub in Rugeley, we were playing a team near to the bottom of the league that by chance had a lady Captain. The player involved in the incident was really struggling to finish his game as was his opponent. They were both on a double and Sid was throwing every dart just below the double that he wanted at the bottom of the board. He just couldn’t seem to lift his darts that fraction of an inch to hit the finishing double. Then it happened, his Lady Captain said those magic words, “I’ll give you some Viagra to help you get them up!” That did it. Of course the room erupted with laughter and yes I seem to remember that Sid did get his darts up that little bit and hit his double. Obviously the Lady Captain told me not to report the incident and I totally ignored her demand, but this is only the second time I have mentioned it on the Net and I haven’t put her name.

Last night in a different league we played a team that was new to the league, although I think a few of their players had played in it in the past. At first they didn’t know what to make of our mixed side when we all trooped in, but after our first young lady beat one of their lads they started to pay attention to the game and it got serious. As we got through the doubles towards the end of the night something was said that will forever live in all of our memories as one of those magic moments. The Lady in question was playing with her husband and both pairs of players were really struggling to hit that elusive double to finish when she said those immortal words, “There’s no sex for you tonight unless you finish this!” The whole pub heard it and burst into laughter while she quickly retreated to the other end of the pub, but it did what was required as her husband hit the double and won the game! When we all left there were smiles all round with warm handshakes and one immortal memory that will live on in all of us.