Table Tennis England begins mandatory DBS era from September 1, 2026

Table tennis in England once relied on a simple rule: if a coach or volunteer worked with children under the supervision of another responsible adult, they did not need a DBS check. From September 1, 2026, that rule is gone. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 removes the supervision exemption from the legal definition of Regulated Activity, pulling every supervised role into the same background-check duty. Table Tennis England responded with an online webinar on September 29, from 18:00 to 19:00, led by Kyhl Daly, the designated Safeguarding Officer. The session is open to club welfare officers, club and league committee members, and regular volunteers who work with children. It explains the new DBS requirements and the wider importance of DBS checks in safeguarding children. Before September 1, 2026, a grey area existed: if a checked adult was present, helpers who picked up balls or assisted coaching could escape the DBS requirement. The new rule closes that gap. From now on, supervised activities are treated the same as unsupervised ones, meaning every adult must prove they are safe to be near a child, even for a short time. A DBS check cannot measure kindness, but it is a net to stop people with a history of child abuse. A table tennis match lasts only a few games, while psychological harm can last a lifetime. That makes this webinar as important as any final, even if it never appears on television. The blind spot for small clubs is the belief that close-knit volunteers do not need paperwork. Yet familiarity breeds complacency. A person with harmful intentions rarely carries a sign; they are often the most likable adult in the room. The new process is like checking the table lamp before a match: tedious but essential. There is a counterintuitive risk: stricter rules could discourage dedicated volunteers, not because they are dangerous, but because administrative burdens feel heavy for someone who only wants to help for one session. If Table Tennis England stops at vetting, safety may become a barrier to entry. The September 29 webinar should therefore not only explain the law; it should show how to turn DBS checks into a culture of empowerment rather than punishment. Based on my experience observing youth development systems, this change did not come from a single scandal. It came from quietly fixing small gaps before they turned into fractures. Other table tennis nations, including Vietnam, should take note. Protecting a person is more heroic than discovering a talent, even though it gets fewer applause. When the webinar ends at 19:00 on September 29, there will be no celebration at the table. What wins is a new standard: children are not responsible for protecting themselves; adults must show they deserve to stand on the other side of the table. We search for gems underground; I search for gems under the surface of human hearts. For Table Tennis England, DBS is one way to wash the sand and reveal that gem.