Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP and chair of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Select Committee, has warned that young girls in England face an excessive number of obstacles when trying to take part in sport. In response, she has advocated for the abolition of the long‑standing 3 p.m.
television blackout that currently prevents live broadcasts of women’s football matches. The CMS Committee, which scrutinises government policy, spending and administration, recently published a "Game On" report that paints a mixed picture of how well community and school sport are meeting the needs of the English population.
The report offers a series of practical recommendations designed to raise participation rates and increase overall activity levels across all age groups. It highlights, however, that school‑age girls encounter particular hurdles that discourage them from staying involved in sport. One of the key proposals is to lift the restriction on broadcasting women’s football during the Saturday 3 p.m.
slot. Evidence gathered for the inquiry shows that when girls can watch women’s sport on television, they are more likely to feel inspired, motivated and confident enough to try sports themselves.
At present, UK law—dating back half a century—prohibits any live broadcast of football matches that kick off at 3 p.m. on a Saturday. This rule was originally intended to protect attendance at lower‑league men’s games, but it now also blocks exposure for the women’s game, limiting role‑model visibility for young girls. The Committee also urges the government to legislate against "No Ball Games" signage on public open spaces and in housing estates, thereby reclaiming these areas for informal play and encouraging spontaneous physical activity.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Dame Caroline explained the breadth of the report’s findings. She said, "We know that people in our nation love sport, but there are simply too many barriers that stop them from getting up and giving it a go. Whether it’s in school, clubs or the wider community, the obstacles are real." She added that as children reach puberty, especially girls, they are increasingly likely to drop out of school sport or even miss school altogether on days when sport activities are scheduled. To address these issues, the Committee has put forward a range of recommendations.
Some are technical, such as removing the 3 p.m. blackout for women’s football on Saturday television.
The proposal suggests that the blackout window—currently running from about 2:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.—be repurposed to showcase 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 regular broadcast slot would benefit the women's game by increasing visibility, sponsorship and fan engagement.
Other suggestions focus on schools. The report calls for a mandatory, inclusive physical education (PE) curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming atmosphere for all pupils. Schools should guarantee at least two hours of high‑quality PE each week, and every child should have the opportunity to be physically active for a minimum of one hour per 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—particularly for girls and children with special educational needs (SEND). Dame Caroline also pressed the government to commit to stable, long‑term funding for school and community sport, improve facilities, and develop a cross‑government strategy aimed at creating a healthier nation. The Committee argues that investing in sport yields social and economic returns, ultimately reducing pressure on health and welfare budgets.
The report notes that the UK lags behind the average European spending on sport and recreation. It recommends that the government double the current 0.3 percent share of total public expenditure on sport to at least 0.6 percent over the next decade.
This would raise the annual budget from roughly £3.8 billion to about £7.6 billion, providing the resources needed to modernise facilities, support grassroots programmes and expand broadcast opportunities for women’s sport. In summary, the CMS Committee’s "Game On" report presents a comprehensive roadmap for breaking down the barriers that keep girls from participating fully in sport.
By lifting the 3 p.m. TV blackout, improving school PE, reclaiming public spaces for play, and increasing public investment, the UK can foster a more inclusive, active and healthier society for the next generation.