Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP and chair of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Select Committee, has highlighted that young girls in England face an excessive number of obstacles when trying to take part in sport. In response, she is urging the government to scrap the long‑standing 3 pm television blackout that currently prevents live broadcasts of women’s football matches on Saturday afternoons. The CMS Committee, which scrutinises government policy, spending and administration, recently published a comprehensive "Game On" report.
The document paints a mixed picture of how well community and school sport are meeting the needs of the English population. While some initiatives are working, many gaps remain, especially for school‑aged girls who often encounter cultural, logistical and infrastructural barriers that discourage continued participation.
Among the report’s practical recommendations are measures designed to boost overall participation rates and raise activity levels across all age groups. A particular focus is placed on removing the specific hurdles that prevent girls from staying involved in sport once they reach puberty. The Committee argues that the 3 pm Saturday blackout, a rule that dates back half a century, is a needless impediment to the visibility of women’s football and, consequently, to the inspiration it can provide to young female audiences.
Evidence gathered during the Committee’s inquiry shows a clear correlation: when women’s sporting events are televised, girls are more likely to feel motivated to be active themselves. The current legislation, which bans live broadcasts of any football match that kicks off at 3 pm on a Saturday, applies equally to men’s and women’s games, despite the fact that the men’s Premier League already enjoys a separate broadcast arrangement.
By lifting the restriction for women’s fixtures, the Committee believes a regular, free‑to‑air slot could be created, giving the women’s game a platform to grow and encouraging girls to see themselves reflected on screen. In addition to the broadcast issue, the Committee is calling on the government to introduce legislation that would require local councils and housing associations to remove "No Ball Games" signage from public open spaces and residential estates.
Such signs often discourage spontaneous play and limit the availability of safe, accessible areas where children—especially girls—can engage in informal sport. Speaking to Sky Sports about the breadth of the report, Dame Caroline emphasized the urgency of tackling these barriers.
"We know that people love sport in this country, but there are far too many obstacles that stop them from getting involved," she said. "Whether it’s in schools, clubs or community settings, the hurdles are real and they disproportionately affect girls as they move through puberty. Many drop out of school sport, and some even miss school entirely on days when sport activities are scheduled." She went on to outline a series of recommendations, ranging from technical reforms to cultural shifts.
The most headline‑grabbing suggestion is the removal of the 3 pm blackout for women’s football. The proposal calls for the blackout window—roughly 2:45 pm to 5:15 pm on Saturdays—to be repurposed for broadcasting women’s matches on free‑to‑air channels. This idea was previously recommended by the Karen Carney review, and the Football Association has acknowledged that a dedicated broadcast slot would bring significant benefits to the women’s game. Other key recommendations target the school environment.
The Committee urges that schools adopt a more inclusive physical education (PE) curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming atmosphere for all pupils. They should guarantee a minimum of two hours of high‑quality PE each week, ensuring that every student has at least one hour of physical activity daily. To achieve this, teachers need better training in delivering inclusive PE, and school uniform and kit policies should be revised to focus on comfort, inclusivity and dignity—changes that would especially help girls and children with special educational needs (SEND) to participate fully. Dame Caroline also called for stable, long‑term funding for both school and community sport programmes, improved facilities, and a coordinated cross‑government strategy aimed at fostering a healthier nation.
The Committee argues that investing in sport yields substantial social and economic returns, ultimately reducing pressure on health and welfare budgets. The report highlighted that the UK lags behind the average spending levels of other European nations when it comes to sport and recreation. Currently, sport receives just 0.3 percent of total government expenditure. The Committee recommends doubling this share to at least 0.6 percent over the next decade, effectively increasing the annual budget from roughly £3.8 billion to £7.6 billion.
Such an investment would support grassroots initiatives, enhance facilities, and create more opportunities for girls to engage in sport from an early age. In summary, the CMS Select Committee’s "Game On" report presents a clear roadmap for removing entrenched barriers that keep girls away from sport.
By ending the 3 pm broadcast ban on women’s football, improving school PE provision, eliminating restrictive signage on public land, and committing to greater funding, the UK can create a more inclusive, active, and healthier society for the next generation.