'End TV blackout of women's football to remove barriers into sport for girls'

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"We know that people in our nation love our sport, but that actually there are just too many barriers that stop them from getting up and giving things a go themselves. Whether that's in school, in clubs or in our community.

"More and more young people, once they hit puberty and especially girls, are dropping out of school sport or are in some cases missing school altogether on the day that sport is happening.

"So we've made a range of recommendations. Some of them are really quite big and technical and like removing the 3pm blackout for women's football on Saturday television.

"We think the 3pm TV blackout should go. The proposal is that the blackout, which runs from about 2.45pm to about quarter past five on a Saturday afternoon, should be used to show women's games on free-to-air TV.

"It was recommended by the Karen Carney review and the FA have acknowledged that there'd be benefits for the women's game in having their own regular broadcast slot."

Image: One recommendation put forward by the CMS Committee stresses the need to dissolve the 3pm TV blackout for women's football

Other recommendations include that schools should be required and supported to deliver a more inclusive PE curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming environment.

Schools in England should also ensure pupils take part in a minimum of 2 hours "high qualify" PE each week with every pupil having the chance to be physically active for at least one hour a day.

Alongside the schools themselves, teachers should be better trained in PE, while kit and uniform policies need re-thinking and should prioritise comfort, inclusivity and dignity, something that would particularly help girls and children with SEND (Special Educational Needs) take part in sport.

Dame Caroline has also urged the government to commit to stable funding for school and community sport, better facilities and a cross-government strategy to deliver a healthier nation, the Committee argues that investing in sport delivers social and economic benefits that will lead to significant savings in the health and welfare budgets.

The report also highlighted the UK lags behind the average of other European countries and recommends the government increase the 0.3 per cent share of total government expenditure on sport and recreation to at least 0.6 per cent over the next 10 years, that's doubling the current £3.8 billion to £7.6bn.

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