There was a time in the 20th century when lawn darts was immensely popular among families, but then came controversy over injuries and a death later, lawn darts became illegal.
Appearing a few decades later, safer versions do exist, but it is natural to ask – Are they safe?
The answer is most likely yes.
Is Lawn Darts Safe To Play?
The bright side here is that the lawn dart sets you can buy today are safe to use, provided you use them for their intended purpose.
Nevertheless, lawn dart sets exist, which you can find sold secondhand on sites selling nostalgia. New those lawn dart sets are unsafe the dart part is made of metal and is pointed just like the darts you throw at a dartboard.
Honestly and as you will see more of below, those lawn dart sets were and are still so unsafe that they resulted in injuries and even death from using them.
Lawn Darts: A Brief History
Lawn darts enjoyed considerable popularity in the middle of the 20th century as a traditional outdoor lawn game.
For decades, kids and adults alike enjoyed hurling these oversized darts at targets on the lawn during family outings, and were a hit for everyone involved.
However, it didn’t take long before, due to its popularity, the game was somewhat controversial and ultimately banned (at least in what people considered “traditional” lawn darts).
Lawn darts have historical roots dating back to ancient civilizations, but don’t gain the title as we have them today until much later.
The road to lawn darts as a formal game has not been easy, with safety concerns being raised following incidents and injuries as people played and experimented, particularly where children were involved.
Subsequently, lawn darts were no longer sold and ultimately became a game with a “newer, safer version.”
Safety Concerns Of Lawn Darts
Producers engineered the original lawn darts similarly to the smaller dartboard cousins. The original lawn dart design came equipped with pointed, metal tips that could penetrate the lawn when thrown. These tips were an obvious concern.
When thrown haphazardly or with power, these tips can and did cause injury and death. For a game intending to be family friendly, it was abundantly clear this was not the best design for children.
There were, unfortunately, some serious events related to lawn darts, including tragic deaths of children struck by these darts.
Regulatory Actions And Important Changes
In 1988, the federal government prohibited the sale of traditional lawn darts after a girl hit by a lawn dart died while playing.
Michelle Snow was seven years old and was outside playing with her friend in her backyard when the lawn dart came over the fence and penetrated her skull, killing her.
The little girl’s father successfully campaigned for a ban on the sales of lawn darts about 18 months following her death. Other jurisdictions followed suit with the ban.
Prior to the ban, there were already restrictions. It was already illegal to sell a lawn dart in a toy store since toy stores were closer to child play. Lawn darts had clear warnings on the package and could not be marketed for children.
Many people had kept their traditional lawn dart sets prior to the ban. It is not illegal for these to still be hanging around in a garage somewhere.
Public Perception Of Lawn Darts
There is a spectrum of public opinion about the game. Some feel nostalgic about the classic game and believe there shouldn’t be a ban.
Some people have even purchased the traditional lawn dart parts and crafted traditional lawn darts. You can also find them for sale from people (perhaps collectors) who have older lawn dart sets that they have for sale on the auction site eBay.
Many put forth the argument that there are dangerous activities, if not dangerous then at least have killed more people, that do not warrant a ban.
Contrarily, there were also those who think they should not let sentimentality get in the way of safety, that there is a survivorship bias among those who put themselves in a position to engage with the traditional game.
Modern Versions Of Traditional Lawn Darts
As a result of the ban on lawn darts, the entire game has been reformulated so consumers can play the game without a safety issue, as the darts are much larger and softer.
Manufacturers have replaced lawn darts with large and soft rounded tips. The metal heavy tipped darts are gone! Rubber or plastic tips are used now.
The game is still the same as far as the concept and results, but now it is much safer!
There are many variations of the game. Some lawn dart sets have only one target, some have rings. You can also buy glow-in-the-dark sets for playing at night! Inflatable lawn darts exist too, so that you can play indoors during inclement weather.
Guidelines For Playing Lawn Darts Safely
Lawn darts is fun, but when you’ve got a game with throwing, you must approach even the modern version cautiously. Here’s what to do to ensure the game is safe and fun:
- Select a flat area that is free of obstructions, and holds ample space.
- Position the targets away from each other based on players’ throwing skill levels.
- Avoid throwing darts in areas where many other people are congregated or in the vicinity of structures.
- Keep a close eye on children–even if they are not playing.
- Wait until all darts have been thrown (even if there are only a few players at a time) before retrieving darts from the target area.
- Stand correctly when throwing darts so they won’t go in an unintentional direction.
- Throw underarm, gently, as darts left uncontrolled will have no path or flight trajectory.
Parental Responsibilities
Parenting is a critical factor in lawn darts’s health and safety. Parents should supervise children who are, particularly a very young child or child with special needs. Young adults may be immature and not fully safety aware.
Parents should explain the safety risks associated with lawn darts, teach children how to play safely and what can happen if they don’t.
Comparative Risk With Other Recreational Activities
Like cricket or baseball, lawn darts comes with risks, but maybe even less because of the force they are thrown at. It is even comparable to another family favorite – horseshoes.
Just as you exercise caution when playing cricket or baseball, exhibit the same with lawn darts to make sure everyone is safe.