England Table Tennis Ends Supervision Exemption, Makes DBS Check Mandatory for All Adults Working With Children

The most important child-safeguarding milestone in English sport this season is not happening on the table. It is happening in the way adults are selected to work with young players. From September 1, 2026, the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removed the supervision exemption from the legal definition of Regulated Activity. In practice, this means any adult working with children in table tennis in England must complete a DBS check, even if another responsible adult is present during training supervised. Previously, many table tennis clubs believed that a volunteer helping children did not need a DBS check as long as a senior coach or Committee member was present. That exemption has now been removed. The law treats supervised roles and unsupervised roles in exactly the same way. This is not a small paperwork change. It reflects a major shift in how sports organisations understand risk to children. The Table Tennis England has organised an online webinar to explain the changes. The session will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 6pm to 7pm UK time. It will be led by Kyhl Daly, Table Tennis England's Designated Safeguarding Officer. The webinar is aimed at Club Welfare Officers, members of club and league committees, and regular volunteers who work with children. During the session, participants will learn about the legal change, its effect on clubs and volunteers, and the importance of DBS checks in safeguarding children. DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service, the criminal record checking service in the United Kingdom. Its function is to stop people who are barred from working with children from gaining access through sports and community activities. In table tennis, where coaching often involves close contact and small group settings, background checking is a vital layer of protection. The decision to remove the supervision exemption reflects a simple but important principle: an adult with harmful intentions will rarely act in full view of a supervisor. They build trust, find quiet moments, and exploit gaps in the routine. Clubs now need to review their volunteer lists immediately. Many clubs rely on parent helpers, university students and former players who occasionally assist with sessions. Previously, such people might have been considered safe because a qualified coach was nearby. That assumption is no longer valid. Club Welfare Officers must take a central role in identifying every position that involves contact with children, whether supervised or not. A DBS check is not just an administrative burden. It protects the child, protects the volunteer, and protects the club's reputation. A transparent and consistent process also makes parents feel more confident about sending their children to a club. Table Tennis England encourages clubs to keep clear records of which members have completed DBS checks and which are still waiting for results. This helps the club respond quickly to challenges and prove that it has fulfilled its duty of care. The change also offers wider lessons for the table tennis community outside England. Vietnam has a growing number of young table tennis players and an increasing demand for qualified coaches. Building a safe environment starts with simple procedures such as identity checks, criminal record screening and clear codes of conduct. These are not unnecessary barriers. They are long-term investments in the future of the sport. Countries that send coaches abroad, or host international training camps for children, need to understand that safeguarding standards around the world are becoming stricter. Clubs in England should attend the Table Tennis England webinar or access the official DBS information page to understand the new rules. They should also plan their budget because DBS checks may involve costs. No club should let financial concerns stand in the way of protecting children. At the same time, a DBS check alone is not enough. It must be combined with training, supervision and a culture where children feel safe to speak up. The story from England shows that strong sporting systems never stop updating their child protection policies. It is time for every national federation and club to look in the mirror. Protecting the youngest members of the sporting community is not optional. It is the foundation on which all future success must be built.