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 called for the long‑standing 3 p.m.
television blackout that applies to women’s football to be scrapped. The CMS Committee, which scrutinises government policy, spending and administration, recently published a comprehensive "Game On" report that paints a mixed picture of how well community and school sport meets the needs of the English population. The report puts forward a series of concrete recommendations designed to lift participation rates and boost overall activity levels across all age groups.
It highlights, however, that school‑aged girls encounter particular hurdles that discourage them from staying involved in sport. 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 can watch women’s sport on television they are more likely to feel inspired, develop confidence, and be motivated to become active themselves. Under current UK law, which dates back half a century, no football match that kicks off at 3 p.m.
on a Saturday may be shown live on television. This blackout was originally introduced to protect the interests of the men’s game, but it now unintentionally hampers the growth of the women’s game and the wider ambition of getting more girls into sport. The committee therefore urges the government to amend the legislation so that the slot can be used for free‑to‑air coverage of women’s matches, providing a regular, visible platform for female athletes. In addition to the broadcast issue, the committee calls on local authorities and housing associations to take down "No Ball Games" signs that prohibit informal play on public open land or within residential estates.
By reclaiming these spaces for recreation, communities can create more opportunities for children – especially girls – to engage in spontaneous sport and physical activity. Speaking to Sky Sports about the breadth of the report, Dame Caroline emphasized the urgency of removing barriers at every level: "We know that people in our nation love sport, yet there are far too many obstacles that prevent them from getting up and trying it themselves.
Whether the obstacle is in school, a club, or the wider community, it stops participation." She went on to note a worrying trend: as children reach puberty, particularly girls, they begin to drop out of school‑based sport or even miss school entirely on days when sporting events are scheduled. "That is why we have made a range of recommendations, some of which are quite technical, such as lifting the 3 p.m. blackout for women’s football on Saturday television." The proposal is that the blackout window – roughly from 2:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
on Saturdays – be repurposed to showcase women’s games on free‑to‑air channels. This idea was previously endorsed by the Karen Carney review, and the Football Association has acknowledged that a dedicated broadcast slot would bring significant benefits to the women’s game, including increased visibility, sponsorship opportunities, and role‑model exposure for young girls. Beyond the TV issue, the report recommends that schools be mandated and supported to deliver a more inclusive physical education (PE) curriculum.
The focus should shift toward enjoyment, comfort, and a welcoming atmosphere for all pupils. Schools should ensure that every student participates in at least two hours of high‑quality PE each week, and that each child has the chance to be physically active for a minimum of one hour each day. To make this happen, teachers need better training in delivering engaging, inclusive PE lessons. Uniform and kit policies should be revisited to prioritize comfort, inclusivity, and dignity – changes that would particularly benefit girls and children with special educational needs (SEND).
By removing restrictive dress codes and providing appropriate equipment, schools can create an environment where every student feels confident to take part. Dame Caroline also urged 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 aimed at improving public health would not only enhance participation but also generate social and economic returns.
The committee argues that spending on sport can lead to substantial savings in health and welfare budgets by reducing obesity, mental‑health issues, and related chronic conditions. The report points out that the UK lags behind the average European spending on sport and recreation. Currently, sport receives just 0.3 % of total government expenditure. The committee recommends that this share be doubled to at least 0.6 % over the next decade, effectively increasing the sport budget from roughly £3.8 billion to £7.6 billion.
Such an increase would fund new facilities, community programmes, and school initiatives that could transform the sporting landscape for girls and boys alike. In summary, the CMS Select Committee’s "Game On" report calls for a multi‑pronged approach: lift the 3 p.m. broadcast blackout for women’s football, reclaim public spaces for play, overhaul school PE to be more inclusive, and double government spending on sport.
By tackling these barriers head‑on, the UK can create a more equitable, active, and healthy future for its young people, especially girls, who stand to gain the most from a sport‑friendly environment.