The chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, has warned that young girls in England face far too many obstacles when trying to get involved in sport. In response, she has advocated for the removal of the long‑standing 3 p.m. television blackout that currently prevents live broadcasts of women’s football matches on Saturday afternoons.
The 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 is 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 hurdles that deter them from participating.
Among the practical recommendations put forward, the report stresses the importance of increasing overall participation rates and raising activity levels across all age groups. However, it highlights a particular set of challenges that affect girls during their school years.
These include a lack of role models, insufficiently inclusive physical‑education curricula, and environments that do not feel welcoming or safe for female students. One of the most striking proposals is to scrap the 3 p.m. Saturday blackout for women’s football. Evidence gathered during the Committee’s inquiry shows a clear correlation: when women’s sport is shown on television, girls are more likely to feel inspired and motivated to become active 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 in the UK. This rule was originally intended to protect the commercial interests of the men’s game, but it now appears to be an outdated barrier that hampers the growth of the women’s game and the broader goal of encouraging girls to take part in sport. In addition to the broadcast issue, the Committee urges the government to pass legislation that would require local councils and housing associations to remove "No Ball Games" signs from public open spaces and residential estates.
By reclaiming these areas for play, communities could provide more accessible venues where children, especially girls, can engage in informal sport and recreation without fear of being told they are not allowed. Speaking to Sky Sports about the findings, Dame Caroline explained the breadth of the report’s recommendations. She noted, "We know that people in our nation love sport, yet there are simply too many barriers that stop them from getting up and trying it themselves. Whether the obstacle is in school, a club, or the wider community, it discourages participation." She added that many young people, particularly girls, tend to drop out of school‑based sport once they reach puberty, and in some cases they even miss school entirely on days when sport activities are scheduled.
The Committee’s suggestions range from relatively modest adjustments to more ambitious reforms. On the technical side, the removal of the 3 p.m. blackout would free up a prime Saturday afternoon slot for women’s football on free‑to‑air channels.
This recommendation aligns with the earlier Karen Carney review, which argued that a regular broadcast window would boost the profile of the women’s game and provide a consistent platform for fans and aspiring athletes alike. Beyond television, the report calls for schools to adopt a more inclusive physical‑education curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming atmosphere.
It proposes that every pupil should receive at least two hours of high‑quality PE each week and have the opportunity to be physically active for at least one hour each day. To achieve this, teachers would need better training in delivering inclusive PE lessons, and school policies around kit and uniforms should be revised to emphasise comfort, inclusivity and dignity.
Such changes would be particularly beneficial for girls and for children with special educational needs (SEND), who often face additional barriers to participation. Dame Caroline also pressed the government to commit to stable, long‑term funding for both school and community sport programmes.
She argued that investing in sport yields significant social and economic returns, including reduced pressure on health and welfare budgets. The Committee’s analysis indicates that the United Kingdom lags behind many European neighbours in terms of public spending on sport and recreation. Currently, sport receives just 0.3 % of total government expenditure. The report recommends doubling this share to at least 0.6 % over the next decade, effectively raising the annual budget from roughly £3.8 billion to £7.6 billion.
By increasing investment, improving facilities, and implementing a cross‑government strategy focused on health and wellbeing, the Committee believes the nation can foster a healthier, more active population. This, in turn, would generate long‑term savings for the NHS and other public services.
In summary, the "Game On" report presents a clear roadmap for removing entrenched obstacles that keep girls from engaging in sport. Key actions include ending the 3 p.m. Saturday blackout for women’s football, reclaiming public spaces for play, reforming school PE curricula, enhancing teacher training, revising uniform policies, and substantially boosting public funding for sport. If these measures are adopted, they could not only elevate women’s football but also inspire a new generation of girls to see sport as an accessible, enjoyable, and empowering part of everyday life.
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