A new code of conduct for youth sports training sets requirements for training venues, class sizes, instructor qualifications and safety management, addressing concerns over unsafe facilities and uneven coaching standards in a rapidly growing market.

　　It is essential for training providers to tailor courses to align with the ages, physical conditions, and varying levels of athletic ability of children. Instructors must hold recognized qualifications, while people with specified criminal records, including those involving sexual abuse or physical assault, are prohibited from working in the sector.

　　The rules also establish limits on class sizes and require additional first-aid support for high-risk sports, helping create safer conditions for children to participate in physical activities.

　　Huang Haiyan, dean of the School of Management at Beijing Sport University, noted that the code upgrades the regulatory framework and is a necessary step toward higher-quality development of the industry.

　　The code should serve as a basis for further clarifying the respective oversight responsibilities of education, market regulation and public security authorities, helping improve the overall governance of the industry, Huang said.

　　SAFER CHILDREN"S PRODUCTS, TOYS

　　A new mandatory national standard on the general safety of children"s products establishes baseline requirements for products used, worn or played with by children under 14, covering product categories that previously lacked mandatory safety standards.

　　The standard covers risks such as sharp edges, detachable small parts that could cause choking, and cords that could pose strangulation hazards. It also sets limits on potentially harmful chemicals, including heavy metals and formaldehyde.