The Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) operates a robust and transparent licensing scheme for its Darts Coaches around the world to meet the needs of the sport.
The PDPA has a legal responsibility to ensure that its Coaches are regulated throughout their PDPA Darts status including ensuring all relevant checks are maintained and kept up to date supported by the most appropriate Continued Professional Development (CPD) training.
All Coaching course applicants without exception are responsible for providing the correct form of evidence by way of an approved check in line with their chosen level of Coaching and the country they are wishing to reside/offer their Coaching services in, either a voluntary or paid role.
This will take place as part of the application process.
A license can only be granted to a coach who is residing in the country they are coaching within and to level of activity they have declared in line with the PDPA Coaching License guidance.
Should any circumstances change, it is the Coaches responsibility to inform the PDPA asap and apply for an updated license in line with their Coaching activities.
All official PDPA Darts Coaches are classed as “self-employed“ unless they are employed by the PDPA, this includes directors of the company.
In principle
A DBS check must be carried out on all PDPA Darts coaches who are based in the UK, it is up to each individual Darts Coach to decide which level of check is appropriate to their coaching activity.
A Certificate of good conduct must be provided by Coaches who are based outside the UK
There are four types of License
PDPA Darts Coach - Child & Adult Coaching License
Enhanced DBS check – this is if a coach based within the UK is intending to perform a “regulated activity” which is defined as an unsupervised activity with a child, on a weekly basis or at least 4 times per month, further information can be found at Regulated activity with children in England and Wales - GOV.UK
This will is available via our partner organization Personnel Checks at a cost including administration of £65.50 by clicking the following link:
https://app.personnelchecks.co.uk/self-initiate/cbaeecf9-971d-4435-b539-ff509f6a35db/darts-enhanced-tutor
PDPA Darts Coach - Adult Coaching License
Basic Disclosure – this check is for all other Coaches based within the UK who are intending to perform any Coaching activity other than a regulated activity.
Further information can be found at Request a basic DBS check - GOV.UK
This will is available via our partner organization Personnel Checks at a cost including administration of £37.50 By clicking the following link
https://app.personnelchecks.co.uk/self-initiate/cbaeecf9-971d-4435-b539-ff509f6a35db/darts-basic-dbs
Your DBS check will be processed as part of your courses application, it is your responsibility to complete the check with Personnel Checks.
Please note – you must apply for one of the two DBS checks required above to complete the licensing application process.
PDPA Darts Coach - Overseas Child & Adult Coaching License & PDPA Darts Coach – Overseas Adult Coaching License-
All PDPA Coaches who are not based in the UK will need to provide a “Certificate of good conduct” in order to complete the application process
This process is relevant to each individual country of residence, and it is the applicants responsibility to endeavor to obtain the relevant certificate.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants
The PDPA would strongly advise all applicants to make this application as soon as they are accepted on to their Coaching Course as the timescale to obtain the Certificate of good conduct varies from country to country.
Whilst the PDPA endeavors to risk assess applicants from outside the UK it cannot due to overseas access to individuals records provide any assurance or accept any liability for individual Coaches who are coaching/delivering sessions to children or adults at risk/vulnerable adults.
It is the Coaches legal responsibility to ensure they meet their country’s requirements for delivering to children or adults at risk/vulnerable adults and to update the PDPA in any change of their circumstances immediately.
The PDPA feels without liability that it has a overreaching duty of care to any Child or adult at risk/vulnerable adult who is receiving Darts coaching from an official Coach outside the UK therefore it requires all overseas coaches to state if they are intending to coach pupils who are identified as a Child or adult at risk/vulnerable adult.
Each PDPA Darts Coach Applicant should carefully read through the 4 Licence types outlined above, depending on which description best matches their type of coaching, the appropriate Licence should be selected and corresponding levels of screening checks/provision of good conduct certification carried out.
If at any point, the type of coaching or country of residence/delivery changes then this must be declared to the PDPA immediately as it may be necessary to alter your licence type in accordance with the type of coaching you intend on carrying out.
The PDPA reserves the right to ask any current PDPA Darts Coach to complete an updated check at any time together with the right to decline, without reason, any application to become an official PDPA Darts Coach.
