Dartboard

Where to Start With the Dartboard

Our Dartboard playground markings are a lively, engaging twist on traditional darts, offering a safe, school-friendly version that encourages students to practise coordination and teamwork. The marking consists of colourful target zones, each assigned specific point values, creating an easy-to-follow scoring system.

Here’s how it works and how students of all ages and abilities can enjoy it:

The Basics: Aim, Throw, and Score

Students take turns “throwing” an object – typically a bean bag, small soft ball, or a similar safe item – aiming to land it in a high-scoring zone on the dartboard marking. Each zone on the dartboard has a set number of points:

• The centre circle is worth 50
• The ring around the centre circle is worth 25
• The sections are worth the number of points specified on the outside of the circle
• The outer ring is worth double the number of points specified on that section of the board
• The inner ring is worth triple the amount of points specified on that part of the board

Darts is typically about working down from 501 or 301, playing in sets of 3 and needing to hit a double as the final dart. However, there are simplified versions of this available as this particular rule may be overly complex for some children. 

Modifying the Playground Markings for Younger Children

For younger students, darts can be easily adjusted to ensure it remains fun and accessible. You might want to order your set of markings with a closer starting line, for instance,  making it easier to reach higher-scoring zones. 

Alternatively, a simplified scoring system can be used, with broad categories like “outer ring,” “middle ring,” and “centre” rather than precise point values. This approach helps younger players focus on the fun of aiming and landing the throw, while gradually introducing the idea of points and scoring. 

Players can take turns, either individually or in teams, so that you engage everyone and help to build a sense of friendly competition. After each turn, players tally their scores based on where their objects land, developing their arithmetic skills along the way. The game can be played over several rounds, or with a time limit, keeping excitement levels high as students challenge themselves to improve their accuracy.

We’ll be glad to help you create a bespoke version of the game to achieve this if you’d prefer.

How Different Equipment Can Help Motivate Students

You might also think of providing different equipment for younger pupils, if your first aim is to encourage enjoyment and an appreciation for the game. Colour-coded balls or bean bags can be used to represent different scores when thrown, such as 5 for a red bean bag or 10 for blue. Alternatively, they could represent different teams, and you could assign kids to the Yellow team or Green team. They could even have different rules attached that you’ve all come up with together. They’re also a great support for visual learners. 

By making these small adjustments, the game becomes less about perfect accuracy the first time around. Instead, it’s more about participation, giving younger students the opportunity to get involved, cultivate and nurture budding new skills, and even build a sense of community through team games.

Adaptations for Students With SEND

Our Dartboard playground markings and the ways you use them are also highly adaptable for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), promoting an inclusive environment where all children can join in. First things first, we can make the markings as small or large as you need them to be. This offers a greater surface area to give all students the chance to take part and score.

What You Can Do to Help

To support different physical abilities, you can offer a variety of throwing objects, allowing students to choose those they find easiest to throw and control. Students with reduced mobility or coordination can participate by throwing from a position closer to the target, which increases their chances of scoring and builds their confidence.

You can also introduce alternative scoring methods, such as rewarding points based on simply hitting the board, rather than requiring specific zones, which can help focus on participation over precision. 

For students who may struggle with the competitive aspect of the game, it can be played collaboratively. In these cases, the whole group works together to reach a target score, fostering a sense of teamwork and shared achievement.

Variations on Playing With Dartboard Playground Markings

• Team Play: Divide the class into small teams, each taking turns to reach a collective score. Team play encourages collaboration and helps students develop communication and team-building skills.
• Target Practise: Students take aim at specific zones, such as aiming only for the outer ring or a particular section. This variation sharpens their accuracy and fine-tunes their concentration, making it ideal for practice rounds before moving on to the full game.
• Colour Match: In this variation, students earn points by landing their bean bags or balls on a particular colour. Teachers can call out a colour for each round, helping students focus on specific parts of the board and practise accuracy in a new way.
• Around the World: Also known as “Around the Clock” or “Around the Board”, players have to take turns hitting numbers in numerical order (starting at 1 and finishing at 20). There isn’t any scoring involved – the first to go through all the numbers in the right order wins.

Other Activities for Dartboard Playground Markings

Maths Challenges

The dartboard marking is a fantastic tool for making maths hands-on. You can challenge students to add up their scores to reach a target number, practising addition and subtraction in a fun way. These variations turn maths lessons into active, outdoor learning.

Team Games

The dartboard encourages teamwork with games that build cooperation and friendly competition. In a “Team Points Challenge,” for instance, students work together to reach a collective score, supporting each other with each throw. These games help students build social skills while staying active.

PE Activities and Obstacle Courses

The dartboard marking is ideal for adding variety to PE. Use it as a stopping point in obstacle courses, where students score before moving on, or as part of a fitness circuit where students alternate between activities and throws. 

Encouraging Creative Uses in the Classroom

You can ensure your dartboard playground markings are customised for other subjects and activities. For example, students can practise spelling by aiming for letters or words written in chalk on the board, or tackle geography and science quizzes with target-based answers. Some teachers even use it for behaviour rewards, adding points for good teamwork or effort. These customisations make the dartboard a versatile resource across lessons.

What Development Benefits Does the Dartboard Have?

Physical Benefits: Our Dartboard playground markings strengthen hand-eye coordination, improve fine and gross motor skills, and enhance balance, making them a fun way to develop agility and control.

Cognitive Benefits: Students can sharpen their focus, boost memory, and practise arithmetic skills as they tally scores, building confidence and reinforcing maths skills in a playful setting.

Social Benefits: By encouraging teamwork, turn-taking, and friendly competition, the game helps students build positive social skills and healthy interaction.

Adaptable for Group Sizes: Whether in small groups or whole-class games, the Dartboard is flexible and inclusive, giving every child the chance to join in.

Clear Benefits For SEND Students

With its clear visual cues and bright, defined target zones, Dartboard playground markings are especially helpful for students with sensory processing needs, providing a structured and predictable activity that is visually engaging without overwhelming stimuli.

• Simple and Flexible Scoring System: The straightforward scoring system can be easily adjusted to make goals achievable for all abilities. You can modify scoring zones or change the throwing distance, allowing students to succeed at their own level. This flexibility builds confidence and encourages every student to engage at a comfortable pace.
• Supports Sensory Integration and Motor Planning: The game offers a valuable opportunity to develop sensory integration and motor planning skills. The action of aiming and throwing promotes coordination and spatial awareness, while the physical movement itself can be soothing and grounding for some students.
• Enhances Social Interaction in a Safe Environment: By playing together in a structured game, students develop key social skills such as turn-taking, cooperation, and communication. It allows for positive, shared experiences, giving students a safe space to interact, connect, and learn alongside their peers.

Why Choose Our Playground Markings?

Durable and Highly Visible: Designed to stay vibrant and clearly defined, our playground markings are ready for play at any time, with no need for setup or adjustment. Students can jump straight into the game, making the most of every break or PE session.

Cost-Effective and Weather-Resilient: Built to withstand all seasons, our Dartboard markings retain their colour and function over time, offering a cost-effective solution that avoids the need for frequent replacements or repairs.

Space-Saving and Low Maintenance: With permanent markings, there’s no need for extra equipment that requires storage or upkeep. This not only saves space but also ensures that you can offer structured play without the added hassle of managing supplies.

Encourages Spontaneous Play: Permanent markings allow teachers and students the flexibility to use the Dartboard at any time, supporting spontaneous games, structured activities, or even educational exercises throughout the school day.

Order Great Games for Your Playground Here

A Dartboard is an engaging, versatile resource that enriches physical activity, mental focus, and social skills for students of all ages and abilities. If you’re ready to enhance your school’s outdoor space, get in touch for a quote or to learn more about our custom marking options. Our team is here to help you explore tailored design solutions that meet your school’s unique needs, creating a playground that inspires active, inclusive play every day.