Table Tennis England removes 'supervision exemption' from DBS checks: a safety lesson for Vietnam's youth academies

On September 29, 2026, from 6 to 7 PM, Table Tennis England is hosting an online webinar led by Kyhl Daly, its Designated Safeguarding Officer. The session focuses on changes to DBS requirements in table tennis, especially for Club Welfare Officers, club or league committee members, and regular volunteers working with children. The key legal change comes from the Crime and Policing Act 2026. From September 1, 2026, the 'supervision exemption' has been removed from the legal definition of Regulated Activity. In the past, some supervised volunteers and coaches working with children did not need a DBS check. Now, supervised roles are treated in the same way as unsupervised ones. The webinar explains why the change matters for safeguarding, how DBS checks work, and what clubs must do to remain compliant. For Table Tennis England, this is part of a broader commitment to child protection. For Vietnam, the article draws a parallel with the lack of standard screening processes in youth table tennis training, urging the sport to build safer environments before talent development can truly flourish.