Table Tennis England explains new DBS requirements in online webinar on September 29, 2026

From September 1, 2026, table tennis volunteers and coaches in England who work with children — whether supervised or not — are required to have a DBS check. The change follows the Crime and Policing Act 2026 formally removing the “supervision exemption” from the legal definition of Regulated Activity. Previously, many volunteer and coaching roles involving children under supervision did not require a DBS check. The new rules remove that exemption and treat supervised roles in the same way as unsupervised ones. To help clubs, league committees and individuals understand the new requirements, Table Tennis England is holding a free online webinar on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm UK time. It will be hosted by Kyhl Daly, Designated Safeguarding Officer at Table Tennis England. Daly will explain what has changed, how it affects volunteers and coaches, and why DBS checks remain an important part of child safeguarding in the sport. The webinar is designed for Club Welfare Officers, members of club and league committees, and regular volunteers who work with children. Anyone running a junior team, coaching under-18 players, or helping to organise a table tennis event involving children should also attend. During the session, participants will learn about the regulatory change and its impact on daily club operations. They will also hear more about Table Tennis England’s DBS application process, supervision expectations, and the role of criminal record checks in protecting young players. The association has updated its DBS page to reflect the law change, giving clubs a practical reference point before and after the webinar. Registration is available through the Table Tennis England website before the event starts. Removing the supervision exemption is not just an administrative step. It is a signal that every adult in regular contact with children in sport must meet the same safeguarding standard. In the past, the boundary between “supervised” and “unsupervised” activities could leave gaps in protection. A new volunteer without a DBS check might, in theory, still have been present in a training area while another checked adult was nearby. The new regulation closes that grey area. Club chairs and welfare officers should now review the files of their coaches, assistants, regular volunteers, and even those who help out only occasionally. In practice, the webinar should mark the start of an internal review, not the end of it. If a volunteer was previously considered exempt because they worked under supervision, clubs must either remove that person from direct work with children or make sure they begin the DBS application before continuing. Table Tennis England’s welfare team will explain the application route, record-keeping expectations, re-check frequency, and how to respond when a new disclosure issue arises. For smaller clubs with limited staff, cost and time may be a concern. But clubs already following a strong safeguarding system will not face extra burdens. The institutions that relied on “having a supervisor nearby” will lose that option. Across English sport, child protection requirements are becoming stricter, and table tennis is no exception. The webinar lasts one hour, but the information it delivers can help hundreds of clubs avoid mistakes in their personnel processes. Those interested should visit Table Tennis England’s DBS or webinar page to register. Clubs should arrange for at least one welfare lead to attend and share the key messages with the rest of their committee. As English table tennis enters this new phase, the story is about more than paperwork. The final aim is to ensure every child who plays the sport does so in a safe environment. The updated DBS rules are one way of reaching that goal. The online webinar on September 29, 2026, is therefore a practical first step for clubs and volunteers who want to stay compliant and keep youth activity running without interruption in the new season.