Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP and chair of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Select Committee, has warned that young girls in England face far too many obstacles when it comes to taking part in sport. In response, she has urged the government to scrap the long‑standing 3 p.m.
television blackout that currently prevents live broadcasts of women’s football on Saturday afternoons. The CMS Committee, which scrutinises government policy, spending and administration, recently published its "Game On" report. The investigation painted a mixed picture of how well community and school sport are meeting the needs of the English population, highlighting both successes and gaps. The report offers a series of concrete recommendations designed to lift participation rates and boost overall activity levels across all age groups.
However, it places particular emphasis on the challenges faced by school‑aged girls. One of the most striking proposals is the removal of the 3 p.m.
Saturday broadcast restriction for women’s football. Evidence gathered during the Committee’s inquiry shows that when girls see women’s sport on television, they are more likely to feel inspired, motivated and confident enough to try sports themselves.
The current legislation, which dates back half a century, bans any live broadcast of football matches that start at 3 p.m. on a Saturday, regardless of gender.
In addition to the broadcasting issue, the Committee is calling on the government to introduce new legislation that would require local councils and housing associations to take down "No Ball Games" signs that often appear on public open spaces and in residential estates. By eliminating these signs, the aim is to reclaim public areas for play and encourage spontaneous, informal sport for children and adults alike. Speaking to Sky Sports about the breadth of the report, Dame Caroline highlighted the broader cultural and structural barriers that keep many people – especially girls – from engaging in sport. She noted that while the nation loves sport, there are “too many barriers that stop them from getting up and giving things a go themselves,” whether those barriers exist in schools, clubs or community settings.
She observed a worrying trend: as girls reach puberty, participation in school sport drops sharply, and in some cases, pupils even miss school entirely on days when sport activities are scheduled. To address these issues, the Committee’s recommendations range from sweeping policy changes to practical, on‑the‑ground measures.
Among the most ambitious proposals is the elimination of the 3 p.m. blackout for women’s football on Saturday television.
The suggested reform would open the window between roughly 2:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
on Saturdays for free‑to‑air broadcasters to show women’s matches, giving the women’s game a regular, high‑visibility slot. This recommendation echoes the earlier Karen Carney review, which also advocated for a dedicated broadcast window, and the Football Association (FA) has acknowledged that such exposure would benefit the women’s game. Other key recommendations focus on schools. The report urges that every school in England be required and supported to deliver a more inclusive physical education (PE) curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming environment for all pupils.
Schools should guarantee a minimum of two hours of high‑quality PE each week, and each student should have the opportunity to be physically active for at least one hour per day. To make this possible, teachers need better training in PE delivery, and school policies around kits and uniforms should be revisited to ensure they promote comfort, inclusivity and dignity.
Such changes would be particularly beneficial for girls and for children with special educational needs (SEND), who often face additional hurdles in participating fully in sport. Funding is another critical pillar of the Committee’s vision. Dame Caroline called on the government to commit to stable, long‑term financing for both school and community sport programmes, improve facilities, and develop a cross‑government strategy aimed at creating a healthier nation. The Committee argues that investing in sport yields substantial social and economic returns, ultimately saving money in health and welfare budgets by reducing lifestyle‑related illnesses.
The report also points out that the United Kingdom lags behind the average spending levels of other European nations when it comes to sport and recreation. Currently, sport receives about 0.3 % of total government expenditure, amounting to roughly £3.8 billion per year. The Committee recommends that this share be doubled to at least 0.6 % over the next decade, raising the annual budget to around £7.6 billion. This increase would fund better facilities, more qualified coaches, and broader access to sport for under‑represented groups.
In summary, the CMS Committee’s "Game On" report presents a comprehensive roadmap for removing entrenched barriers to sport participation, especially for girls. By ending the 3 p.m.
blackout on women’s football, reclaiming public spaces for play, reforming school PE curricula, and substantially increasing public investment, the government can create a more inclusive, active, and healthier society. The Committee’s recommendations aim not only to boost participation numbers but also to foster a culture where sport is accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for everyone, regardless of gender, age or ability.