An interview with Youth Sports Champion Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
Congress is full of people who support youth sports, but few step up to lead the charge on innovative efforts to advance youth sports policies like Congressman Chuck Fleischmann. The Congressman understands youth sports, as a lifelong athlete himself who still plays on the Congressional Baseball, Football, and Basketball teams. Mr. Fleischmann is a regular in the gym, a long-time advocate of the PHIT Act to lower family activity costs, and recently, he led the successful effort to secure funding for a Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Study on the Economic Impact of Youth Sports. The BEA study will be a huge asset to the industry, layering the economic benefits of youth sports on top of the health and social benefits to advance youth sports policies.
SFIA recently sat down with Congressman Fleischmann to discuss youth sports, the benefits of participation, the barriers families face, and how participation in Congressional Sports has helped him build relationships on Capitol Hill and in DC.
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Q&A
Q: When did you start playing sports and how did your childhood sports experiences influence you?
A: Age five. Playing sports during my childhood taught me the importance of fair, strong competition.
Q: You came to Congress and immediately jumped into Congressional Sports, then dedicated yourself to improving your fitness. You are a model for healthy lifestyles. How has playing on the Congressional Baseball and Football teams helped you as a legislator? How has your commitment to fitness impacted your life?
A: As a Legislator, taking part in Congressional Sports, specifically playing every year in the Congressional Baseball Game and the Congressional Football Game, has allowed me to make strong friendships with Members in my own Conference, across the aisle, across the Capitol, and across multiple Administrations.
My commitment to fitness has allowed me, at almost 62, to live a healthy life, play healthy, and still be able to take part in competitive sports.
Q: What drives your passion for sports and commitment to ensuring America’s youth have the opportunity to play sports?
A: The love of all sports, but specifically, my love of the sport of baseball, and competition. America’s youth can learn early the values of healthy competition and avoid, if possible, negative lifestyle choices which would affect them in a harmful way as they grow older.
Q: What do you see as the biggest barriers and threats to youth sports participation? Biggest Benefits?
A: Barriers: Access and exposure, lack of resources.
Benefits: Creating relationships and friendships while enjoying the benefits of the sport(s) of their choosing.
Q: Thank you for your leadership in capturing the economic impact of youth sports. Why does the economic impact matter and how will knowing the economic side change the youth sports conversation in Washington?
A: Parents, friends, families, and communities will invest wisely in equipment, personnel, and facilities to promote youth sports. Tourism will also benefit.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].