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 get involved in sport. In response, she has urged the government to scrap the longstanding 3 p.m.
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 paper 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 are disproportionately affected by a lack of visibility and opportunity in sport.
Among the report’s many practical recommendations are measures designed to lift participation rates and raise overall activity levels across all age groups. A key focus, however, is on the specific barriers that deter girls from staying involved in sport once they reach puberty. The Committee argues that one of the most glaring impediments is the 3 p.m.
Saturday blackout, a piece of legislation that dates back half a century and bans live broadcasts of any football match in the United Kingdom during that window. Evidence gathered during the Committee’s inquiry shows a clear correlation between televised women’s sport and increased inspiration among girls. When young women see female athletes on screen, they are more likely to feel motivated to try sports themselves.
By keeping women’s football off the air during the prime Saturday slot, the blackout inadvertently reinforces the perception that women’s sport is less important, thereby perpetuating low participation rates among girls. In addition to calling for the removal of the blackout, the Committee has urged the government to pass new legislation that would require local councils and housing associations to eliminate "No Ball Games" signage from public open spaces and residential estates. The aim is to reclaim these areas for free play, ensuring that children have safe, accessible places to be active without unnecessary restrictions.
Speaking to Sky Sports about the breadth of the report, Dame Caroline highlighted the urgency of the situation: "We know that people in our nation love sport, yet there are far too many barriers that stop them from getting up and trying it for themselves—whether in schools, clubs or community settings. More and more young people, especially girls, are dropping out of school sport as they hit puberty, and some are even missing school entirely on days when sport activities are scheduled." She went on to explain that the Committee’s recommendations range from technical reforms to cultural shifts.
"One of the biggest and most technical proposals is to lift the 3 p.m. blackout for women’s football on Saturday television. We believe this slot, which currently runs from about 2:45 p.m.
to 5:15 p.m., should be used to showcase women’s games on free‑to‑air channels. This idea was first put forward in the Karen Carney review, and the FA has recognised that a regular broadcast slot would bring clear benefits to the women’s game." Beyond the broadcasting issue, the report calls for schools to adopt a more inclusive physical education (PE) curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming atmosphere for all students. Schools should be mandated to provide at least two hours of high‑quality PE each week, with every pupil given the chance to be physically active for a minimum of one hour per day.
To achieve this, teachers need better training in PE delivery, and school policies around kit and uniforms should be revisited to ensure they promote comfort, inclusivity and dignity—particularly for girls and children with Special Educational Needs (SEND). Dame Caroline also pressed the government to guarantee stable, long‑term funding for both school‑based and community sport programmes.
She argued that investing in sport yields significant social and economic returns, ultimately reducing pressure on health and welfare budgets. The report notes that the UK currently spends only 0.3 percent of total government expenditure on sport and recreation, lagging behind the European average.
The Committee recommends doubling this share to at least 0.6 percent over the next decade, effectively raising the annual budget from roughly £3.8 billion to £7.6 billion. By increasing funding, improving facilities, and implementing a cross‑government strategy focused on health and activity, the Committee believes England can become a healthier nation while also narrowing the gender gap in sport participation.
The proposed changes—especially lifting the TV blackout—are seen as vital steps toward making women’s sport more visible, inspiring the next generation of female athletes, and breaking down the systemic barriers that have kept many girls on the sidelines for far too long. In summary, the CMS Select Committee’s Game On report calls for: 1.
Removal of the 3 p.m. Saturday blackout for women’s football, allowing live broadcasts on free‑to‑air TV. 2. Legislative action to eliminate "No Ball Games" signs on public land and in housing estates.
3. A more inclusive, enjoyment‑focused PE curriculum with minimum activity standards. 4. Enhanced teacher training and revised uniform policies to support comfort and inclusion.
5. Stable, increased funding for sport, aiming to double the current spend to £7.6 billion within ten years. These measures, the Committee argues, will not only boost participation among girls but also deliver broader health, social and economic benefits for the whole country.