Table Tennis England tightens DBS rules: A turning point in child safeguarding

In the context of modern sports, ensuring child safety during training is a top priority for sports federations worldwide. In England, the introduction of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 has created a significant legal milestone, particularly in table tennis. Specifically, from September 1, 2026, the supervision exemption in regulated activity has been removed. This means every role working with children in table tennis, whether supervised or not, now requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Table Tennis England (TTE) will host a webinar on September 29, 2026, from 18:00 to 19:00 (UK time) to explain these changes and the new processes. The webinar will be led by Kyhl Daly, the Designated Safeguarding Officer for Table Tennis England. It is aimed at club welfare officers, committee members, and regular volunteers who work with children. The session will highlight the differences between previous and new regulations, help clubs understand DBS application procedures, and ensure timely compliance. This event is not just an informational announcement; it serves as a bridge between the governing body and the table tennis community. Why such a big change? Previously, under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2026, an individual could work with children if the activity was supervised by someone who had a DBS check. They were considered outside the scope of regulated activity. However, it has been shown that this supervision was not always strong enough to prevent harm. Various incidents occurred even under supervision. Parliament listened to child protection campaigners and closed this loophole in the Crime and Policing Act 2026. The immediate effect is that all English table tennis clubs must review their personnel. Volunteers, assistant coaches, kit staff, and even those who simply help around during children's sessions now need a valid DBS. This creates an administrative and financial burden on amateur clubs, which often have limited resources. Nevertheless, TTE is committed to simplifying the process, creating clear guidance documents, and offering online training. The upcoming webinar is a key initiative to ease this transition. During the webinar, Kyhl Daly will explain how to complete an online DBS application, how to verify identity, expected processing times, and special cases. He will also answer questions from participants. This is a good opportunity for smaller clubs to understand their new responsibilities and update their action plans ahead of the new season. The changes in England are not just relevant domestically; they also offer lessons for Vietnamese sports. In Vietnam, table tennis is a popular sport among children, with training centres spanning from urban to rural areas. However, recruitment of coaches and volunteers is primarily based on experience and skill, with no clear criminal record check process. Recent unfortunate incidents in physical education and sports have raised alarm. It is time for Vietnam's sports system to build a child-safe legal framework with clear minimum standards for personnel. Even before regulations are formalised, Vietnamese table tennis clubs can adopt good practices voluntarily. These include requiring criminal record checks for full-time instructors, establishing codes of conduct with children, monitoring sessions closely, and creating channels for parents to report concerns. These practices are not necessarily expensive, but they build trust with parents and enhance the reputation of training centres. Compared to countries like Australia or the USA, which already have systems such as Working with Children Check or SafeSport, England is taking another step to cover even supervised roles. This reflects a 'zero tolerance' approach to any potential risk. Clubs that are slow to adapt may face the risk of losing their license to operate, as child protection regulations become increasingly strict. From a psychological perspective, stricter rules provide peace of mind for parents. Knowing that all adults around their children have been vetted gives parents confidence. This helps maintain and develop youth programmes in English table tennis in the long run. The cost of DBS checks can therefore be seen as an investment in the future, not merely a bureaucratic burden. Moreover, a DBS check is not just a piece of paper. Alongside it, TTE offers awareness training such as 'Safeguarding Awareness', which helps adults recognise signs of abuse and prevent offenders from hiding behind volunteer status. Effective child protection in sport needs multiple layers: vetting, supervision, ongoing training and a culture where people are encouraged to speak out. Together these create a robust safety network. Looking ahead, table tennis federations in Asia can study this model for their own use. Vietnam could start with small steps: issuing a code of ethics for coaches, organising child protection workshops, and coordinating with police authorities to verify backgrounds of coaches under management. This approach is feasible and will prepare the groundwork for a more comprehensive legal framework in the future. Above all, the story from English table tennis reminds us that sport is not only about physical skills and competition, but also about character development. Any country that wants to develop table tennis sustainably must put human safety first. Let every parent worldwide be able to smile with confidence when taking their child to their first training session. That is the greatest achievement for any sporting community.