As the national governing body for table tennis in Scotland, Table Tennis Scotland is committed to maintaining high standards of coaching, participant welfare and responsible conduct.
Volunteer coaches make a vital contribution to our sport. The TTS Coach Licence supports both voluntary and paid coaches by checking that the appropriate qualifications, training and safeguards are in place.
TTS expects all qualified coaches actively delivering table tennis to maintain a current licence, whether coaching in clubs, schools, community programmes or independently. A current licence is required for coaches representing Scotland in a coaching capacity.
Your coaching qualification records the award you have achieved. Your licence demonstrates that you continue to meet TTS’s requirements for an active coach.
BENEFITS OF BECOMING A COACH
Coaching insurance
Your TTS Coach Licence provides coaches’ insurance cover, subject to the policy’s terms, conditions and exclusions.
Confidence for your club and participants
Demonstrate that your qualifications, training and supporting credentials have been checked through the TTS licensing process.
Coach development
Access additional TTS CPD and development opportunities to help build your knowledge and skills.
Coaching opportunities
Present your credentials to schools, local authorities, community organisations and employers when taking up voluntary or paid coaching roles.
LICENCE REQUIREMENTS
Coaching Qualification
You must hold a recognised table tennis coaching qualification, such as the Level 1 Session Coach or Level 2 Lead Coach qualification.
First Aid
You must hold a current and appropriate First Aid qualification, from a course attended within the last three years. Emergency First Aid is suitable. Courses are available through local leisure authorities, colleges and recognised First Aid training providers.
Child Wellbeing and Protection
You must hold a Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport (CWPS) training certificate from a course attended within the last three years. Details of upcoming courses are available through Children First and sportscotland. Courses may also be available through local leisure authorities, and TTS occasionally organises courses for coaches.
PVG Scheme Membership
You must hold the appropriate PVG Scheme membership where required for your coaching role. Contact TTS if you need help confirming the requirements. Coaches who require PVG Scheme membership and belong to a fully affiliated TTS club can complete the process through TTS.
Continuing Professional Development
Coaches should continue developing their knowledge and skills through TTS workshops, coach development sessions and other relevant learning opportunities. Please provide details of your CPD when applying for or renewing your licence.
TTS Membership
You must hold current Table Tennis Scotland membership, which is managed through JustGo. Visit the Membership section of the TTS website for information about membership categories and how to join or renew. TTS plans to move the Coach Licence system fully into JustGo in the future, bringing membership and coach licensing together in one place. Until then, please use the Coach Licence application form below.
COACHING SESSIONS AND ASSISTANTS
TTS expects a coach holding a current TTS Coach Licence to be present at every coaching session, overseeing delivery and supporting anyone assisting.
Volunteers working towards a recognised coaching qualification and Coach Licence can assist under the supervision of the licensed coach, carrying out tasks appropriate to their experience and training.
Assistants must hold the appropriate PVG Scheme membership where required for their role before they begin assisting. Working towards a qualification or helping under supervision does not remove this requirement.
Clubs should support new volunteers with guidance, training and opportunities to develop their coaching skills.
YOUR COACH LICENCE CARD
Once approved, your interactive Coach Licence card is emailed to you as a PDF.
Save the card to your smartphone and open it when you need to present your credentials. Tap “View credentials”, or use the QR code, to access your credentials page.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLUBS, ORGANISATIONS AND INDEPENDENT COACHES
The club or organisation arranging the coaching is responsible for checking that appropriate qualifications, training, safeguards and insurance arrangements are in place.
TTS expects clubs to check a coach’s licence and relevant supporting credentials before they begin delivering sessions on the club’s behalf, whether the role is voluntary or paid.
Ask the coach to present their licence card and use the button or QR code to check their record. Keep a record of these checks, monitor expiry dates and help volunteer coaches keep their credentials current.
Coaches arranging and delivering sessions independently are responsible for ensuring their own licence, supporting credentials and insurance arrangements are current and appropriate for the activities they deliver.
Schools, local authorities, community organisations and employers may also ask to see this information. The licence makes it easier for coaches to present their credentials, while supporting the organisation’s own recruitment and safeguarding checks.
COST AND VALIDITY
The Coach Licence costs £25 per season.
If you do not play competitively, Full Non-Playing Membership costs £12.50, bringing the combined cost to £37.50 per season. If you already hold an appropriate current TTS membership, you only need to pay the licence fee.
Any required training courses are charged separately. A small payment-provider processing fee is shown before you submit the application.
The licence season runs from 1 August to 31 July, and coaches must renew each season. Your licence is valid until 31 July of the relevant season or the expiry of any required supporting credential, whichever comes first.
APPLY OR RENEW
Complete the online application form and attach the required supporting certificates. The form can be completed from any internet-connected device, with no login or password required. Documents can be uploaded in PDF, PNG or JPG format.
Please allow up to seven working days for your licence to be issued once we have received your completed application, payment and all required supporting documents. We aim to issue licences sooner wherever possible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. The licence is for qualified coaches delivering table tennis regularly or occasionally, in voluntary or paid roles.
If you organise or supervise a social or practice session without providing coaching, you still need to consider safety, participant welfare and insurance.
TTS recommends that someone involved in delivering the session is present with a current First Aid certificate, and that appropriate insurance cover is in place for the activities being delivered.
Where children are involved, someone responsible for the session should also have completed CWPS training within the last three years. The club or organiser should check any PVG requirements for those involved.
If coaching is provided during the session, the licensed coach arrangements above apply. Contact TTS if you are unsure which requirements apply to your session.
You must hold a recognised table tennis coaching qualification to become licensed. If you would like to qualify, please keep an eye on the TTS website’s News section and calendar for upcoming coaching courses.
You can gain experience by assisting a licensed coach while working towards your qualification, with the appropriate checks in place.
You do not need to repeat your coaching qualification simply to renew your licence. You must keep your required supporting credentials and TTS membership current and continue developing your coaching knowledge and skills.
Complete the relevant training and email your updated certificate to info@tabletennisscotland.co.uk, including your name, TTS affiliation number and Coach Licence number, so your record can be updated.
Please arrange this before your certificate expires to help keep your licence current.
TTS is working towards publishing a list of active licensed coaches on its website, similar to the approach used by Table Tennis England.
This will help clubs, schools, community organisations and participants find licensed coaches and raise the visibility of Scotland’s coaching workforce. Further details will be shared when the list is ready.
The requirement depends on your role and the people you work with. Contact TTS for help confirming whether PVG Scheme membership is required and which process to follow.
For questions about your application, credentials, insurance or the PVG process, contact the TTS Admin Team.