Editor's Note: These 10 "Commandments" were originally written by Sarah Parsons (of Fort Worth, Texas) in the early 1970's, and have been reprinted countless times in darts league newsletters, darts magazines, and tournament programs.

In soft-tip darts, electronic dartboards score dart games automatically. But, in steel-tip (Steel-Point Darts) darts games played on bristle dartboards, a scorekeeper, called the Chalker, stands next to the scoreboard and keeps score.

It is traditional for the winning darts team to thank a good chalker with a handshake and perhaps a free drink.

Does anyone know where Sarah Parsons is now? Please let CyberDarts know.

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The Darter's

"10 Commandments" For Keeping Score

by Sarah Parsons

1.Scorekeepers Shall Not talk while keeping score!

2. Scorekeepers Shall Not move about while keeping score, stand still!

3. Scorekeepers Shall Not look at the shooter, stand facing the dart board!

4. Scorekeepers Shall Not call out a score, of one dart or all three -- unless the shooter asks you!

5. Scorekeepers Shall Not tell a shooter what to shoot or what combination to shoot for an out!

6. Scorekeepers Shall Not change a score unless it is brought to the attention of both shooters (teams).

7. Scorekeepers Shall Not change a score - regardless - if that player (team) has shot again and a second score written down. An error in a dart shooter's score MUST be corrected before he (team) shoots again or it stands.

8. Scorekeepers Shall Not lean out to see where a dart is or is going nor shall he follow the darts with body or head movement!

9. Scorekeepers Shall Not show any sign of disgust or excitement while at the scoreboard!

10. Scorekeepers Shall Not change the side of the scoresheet of the player in three leg matches. If you start a darts player on the left side of the scoresheet, continue to keep his score on the left, regardless of what the Bull shots are.