The Chair of the Culture, Media, Sport Select Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, believes that numerous barriers prevent young girls in England from participating in sports. To address this issue, she is advocating for the elimination of the 3pm TV blackout for women's football. According to the CMS Committee's Game On report, which examines government policies and spending, there is a lack of adequate community and school sports facilities to meet the needs of the English population.
The report highlights specific obstacles for school-age girls and recommends removing the 3pm Saturday broadcast restriction for women's football, as evidence suggests that broadcasting women's sports inspires and motivates girls to engage in physical activity. Currently, UK legislation prohibits the live broadcast of football matches that kick off at 3pm on Saturdays. The Committee also urges the government to pass legislation requiring councils and housing associations to remove 'No Ball Games' signs from public spaces, allowing children to reclaim these areas for play. Dame Caroline Dinenage stated that the nation's love for sports is hindered by numerous barriers, resulting in many young people, especially girls, dropping out of school sports or missing school on sports days.
The Committee has made several recommendations, including removing the 3pm blackout for women's football on Saturday television, which was previously suggested by the Karen Carney review and acknowledged by the FA as beneficial for the women's game. Other proposals include requiring schools to deliver a more inclusive physical education curriculum, ensuring pupils participate in at least 2 hours of high-quality physical education per week, and providing better training for teachers. The Committee also recommends that the government commit to stable funding for school and community sports, improve facilities, and develop a cross-government strategy to promote a healthier nation. By investing in sports, the Committee argues that the government can deliver social and economic benefits, leading to significant savings in health and welfare budgets.
The report also notes that the UK lags behind other European countries in terms of sports funding and recommends increasing the current 0.3 percent share of total government expenditure on sports and recreation to at least 0.6 percent over the next decade.