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 is urging lawmakers to scrap the long‑standing 3 pm 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 a comprehensive "Game On" report. The document paints a mixed picture of how well community and school‑based sport is meeting the needs of the English population. While some initiatives are working, many gaps remain, especially for school‑aged girls who are often the most vulnerable to dropping out of physical activity programmes.
Among the report’s many practical recommendations are measures designed to lift overall participation rates and raise activity levels across all age groups. A particular focus is placed on the specific hurdles that prevent girls from staying engaged in sport once they reach puberty. The Committee argues that one of the most effective ways to inspire girls is to give them visible role models on television. Evidence gathered during the inquiry shows that when women’s sport is shown on TV, girls are more likely to feel motivated and to see sport as an achievable, enjoyable pursuit.
At present, a 50‑year‑old piece of legislation bans the live broadcast of any football match that starts at 3 pm on a Saturday in the United Kingdom. This rule was originally intended to protect the attendance of lower‑league men’s games, but it now also blocks the exposure of women’s football at a time when families are likely to be watching together. The Committee recommends that this blackout be lifted for women’s matches, allowing them to be shown on free‑to‑air channels during the same slot.
In addition to the broadcasting issue, the Committee is calling on the government to require local authorities and housing associations to remove "No Ball Games" signs that often appear on public open spaces and in residential estates. By eliminating these prohibitive signs, communities would regain valuable areas for informal play, encouraging children of all ages to be active. Speaking to Sky Sports about the breadth of the report, Dame Caroline highlighted the urgency of the situation: "We know that people across the country love sport, yet there are still too many barriers that stop them from getting involved.
Whether it’s in schools, clubs or community settings, the obstacles are real. As children reach puberty—especially girls—they are increasingly likely to drop out of school sport or even miss school entirely on days when sport is scheduled." She continued, "That’s why we have put forward a suite of recommendations, some of which are quite ambitious. One of the most straightforward yet impactful changes is to remove the 3 pm blackout for women’s football on Saturdays. The blackout, which runs roughly from 2:45 pm to 5:15 pm, should be repurposed to showcase women’s games on free‑to‑air television.
This idea was first recommended in the Karen Carney review, and the FA has acknowledged that a regular broadcast slot would bring clear benefits to the women’s game." Other key recommendations focus on schools. The Committee urges that every school be required—and supported—to deliver an inclusive physical education (PE) curriculum that prioritises fun, comfort and a welcoming environment for all pupils. Schools should guarantee a minimum of two hours of high‑quality PE each week, and every child should have the opportunity to be physically active for at least one hour each day. To achieve this, teachers need better training in PE delivery, and school uniform and kit policies should be revised to emphasise comfort, inclusivity and dignity.
Such changes would be especially beneficial for girls and for children with special educational needs (SEND), who often face additional barriers to participation. Dame Caroline also called on the government to commit to stable, long‑term funding for both school‑based and community sport programmes. Investment in better facilities, coaching and cross‑government strategies to promote health would not only improve public wellbeing but also generate social and economic returns. The Committee points out that sport investment can lead to substantial savings in health and welfare budgets by reducing the prevalence of lifestyle‑related illnesses.
The report underscores that the UK lags behind the European average in terms of public spending on sport and recreation. Currently, only 0.3 percent of total government expenditure is allocated to sport, amounting to roughly £3.8 billion per year. The Committee recommends that this share be doubled to at least 0.6 percent over the next decade, raising the annual budget to around £7.6 billion.
Such an increase would bring the UK more in line with its European neighbours and provide the resources needed to implement the Committee’s wide‑ranging recommendations. In summary, Dame Caroline Dinenage and the CMS Select Committee are pressing for a series of reforms aimed at breaking down the structural and cultural barriers that keep girls away from sport.
By ending the 3 pm TV blackout for women’s football, reclaiming public spaces for play, enhancing school PE programmes, and boosting public investment, they hope to create a more inclusive, active, and healthier nation for future generations.