England Adjusts DBS Regulations: All Table Tennis Volunteers Working with Children Must Undergo Background Checks from September 2026

On September 29, from 18:00 to 19:00 UK time, Table Tennis England will host an online webinar to explain significant changes in Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background check requirements for volunteers and coaches working with children in the sport. The event will be led by Kyhl Daly, the Designated Safeguarding Officer of the federation – a familiar figure in building safe sporting environments. The context of this webinar stems from a landmark change in English law. Effective September 1, 2026, the Crime and Policing Act 2026 has officially removed the 'supervision exemption' from the legal definition of Regulated Activity. Previously, some volunteers and coaches working with children under another person's supervision were not required to hold a DBS certificate. However, the new regulation has abolished this exception, treating supervised and unsupervised roles equally before the law. This online webinar is specifically designed for Club Welfare Officers, members of club or league committees, and those who regularly volunteer with children. According to the official announcement from the federation, during the session, attendees will learn about the regulatory change, how it applies to them and the volunteers they may work with, as well as the federation's DBS processes and the importance of this check in safeguarding children in the sport. This is not just an ordinary online meeting. For me, someone who has spent years observing how systems operate in sports, this change reflects a global trend: sports organizations are increasingly tightening safety standards to protect the most vulnerable. In table tennis, where training sessions often involve small groups and coach-student relationships can last for years, background checks become an essential layer of protection. Notably, the new regulation makes no distinction between supervised and unsupervised roles. This means that even if a volunteer only assists the head coach during a session where other adults are present, they must still undergo the full DBS check process. This 'no-exceptions' approach demonstrates a new safety philosophy: risk cannot be fully eliminated through supervision alone, and therefore, everyone who comes into contact with children must be screened. Throughout my career, I have witnessed many cases where sports organizations focused only on background checks for official coaches while overlooking supporting volunteers or those in informal roles. That gap, however small, could become an opening for unwanted behavior. The new English regulation has closed this gap thoroughly. For table tennis clubs, this means they need to review their entire roster of volunteers and coaches. Those who were previously exempt from DBS checks will now have to begin this process. This may create an administrative burden, but essentially, it is a necessary investment in children's safety. The webinar will also address how Table Tennis England processes DBS applications, the specific steps clubs need to take, and important considerations during this process. For those wondering about costs or processing times, this will be an opportunity to get direct answers from the responsible officer. From the tactical perspective I apply to sports issues, changing DBS regulations is not merely a matter of legal compliance. It is part of a strategy to build trust. When parents bring their children to a table tennis club, they look not only at competitive achievements but also at the safety of the environment. A club where all volunteers have been background-checked creates an invisible but very real competitive advantage. I recall a match without spectators that I once observed, where a young coach spent time outside training hours chatting with a young student. Without a strict background check system, no one could be certain that such interactions were safe. The new regulation brings peace of mind to all parties involved. The webinar will last one hour, including a presentation and a Q&A session. Interested clubs and volunteers can register through the Table Tennis England website. Additionally, detailed information about the DBS process is available on the federation's dedicated DBS page. For those working in sports management in Vietnam, this is a lesson worth reflecting on. Building a child protection system in sports goes beyond issuing codes of conduct; it requires clear mechanisms for checking, monitoring, and handling violations. When a country like England makes such bold adjustments, it signals that the global trend is moving toward stricter standards. England's change in DBS regulations, effective September 2026, serves as a reminder that children's safety in sports can never be taken lightly. And webinars like this, though lasting only an hour, are where policy changes are translated into concrete actions at the club level. I will continue to observe how table tennis clubs in England adapt to this new regulation. Seven minutes of video, seven years of rewatching. Each time I see a different match. Similarly, each time I examine a new regulation, I see new aspects of how an organization operates. And in this case, I see an organization putting children's safety first – a decision I believe will shape how English table tennis operates for years to come.