Billy Hansen took to soccer from a young age and built a life around the game. He played high school, college, and professionally in Brazil—an experience that widened his world beyond the South Bay bubble and deepened his love for the sport.
Years later, that same passion found new meaning when Billy became a father to three daughters. “I started coaching my daughters when I was still playing,” he explained. “That was kind of a transition when I figured it's time to not play as much and coach more.”
What began as coaching soon became advocacy. After helping families who couldn’t afford club soccer, Billy had a moment that would change everything. While scouting a game in 2016, he met a standout player named Izabella—and soon after, her friend Ashly from South Central Los Angeles.
“Right there was the birth of SIFA,” Billy said. “When I went out there and saw these girls playing with boys… these kids could play. They just didn’t have the coaching.”
Soccer Is For All (SIFA) was officially formed in October 2023, built on the belief that talent should never be limited by finances. SIFA covers club fees—often around $4,000 per player per year. “To me, at the end of the day, these kids need a fair chance,” Billy said.
What SIFA also provides goes far beyond soccer. There are clinics, college prep workshops, mentoring, and exposure to college coaches. For the last two years, SIFA has hosted “Rising Stars”—an inner-city high school all-star girls soccer event. “We promoted it as a showcase,” Billy said. “I think we had three college coaches the first year. The second year, we had seven.”
Those opportunities matter because, as Billy pointed out, “Those coaches aren't going out to those inner-city rec leagues to watch the kids play.” Exposure to college coaches, he explained, is essential to a player’s future, opening doors to higher-level competition, recruitment, and, in some cases, scholarships. “If they're not in the club system, they're not going to develop and they're not going to get that exposure.”
“Our first and foremost objective is to give them the confidence to start thinking about [college],” Billy explained. He tells the girls, “Every single one of you can. You just have to make sure you do the work.”
That confidence is paying off. Over the last three seasons, SIFA has helped 25 first-generation college students take that next step. More than 100 under-resourced players have been sponsored at the club level, and 1,000 underserved youth have been reached through free clinics.
“Probably more important is just to see their self-esteem grow,” Billy said. “They get better and their self-esteem improves. It’s hand in hand.”
Today, SIFA is supported by volunteers who mentor the girls, including Sheldon Thomas, Assistant Coach at West Los Angeles College; Jeff Joyner, Associate Head Coach at California State University, Long Beach; and Patricia O’Keefe, an independent education consultant with ties to USC. Guest speakers such as Wendy Espejel, coach of the Mexico Youth National Team and Head Coach at Soka University, reinforce what’s possible. Still, sustaining SIFA depends on community support. Donations help cover team fees, operating costs, clinics, and college programming that allow the organization to continue expanding access. “There’s so many kids out there that just need the opportunity,” Billy explained.
For Billy, a Redondo Beach girl dad, soccer has become a way to help young women set higher goals—on the field, in the classroom, and in life.
“Stuff like that,” he says, “is why I do it.”