Overview Of Fiya
The Foundation for Interscholastic Youth Athletics (FIYA) proudly serves elementary and middle schools in the Los Angeles area by providing interscholastic sports leagues and competitions. Since our founding in August 2011, we have been committed to our mission of strengthening schools through sports.
FIYA is a comprehensive athletic program that invites students from all over the city –regardless of background, religion, race, or socio-economic status– to play sports, engage in healthy competition, build connections, and strengthen lifelong social skills
Participation in FIYA is open to any elementary or middle school in Los Angeles County and FIYA particularly focuses on working with schools in economically disadvantaged areas. We are proud to have served over 75,000 student athletes and 6,000 school teams since our founding, and continue to expand throughout Los Angeles County every year.
Currently, we provide the following sports as part of our programming: flag football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, eSports, dance, futsal, soccer, and track & field. Read more about each sport under the “Sports” tab above.
We hope to continue to expand our program offerings to allow participation from all interested students. As a nonprofit organization (501c3 nonprofit corporation), our services and programs heavily rely on donations, sponsorships, partnerships, and grant opportunities, as well as the participation of dedicated and knowledgeable individuals who share our passion for youth sports. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our sponsors, partners, and everyone who has contributed to our work. Click here to learn how you can get involved with our organization and the community we serve.
Founding Members
John Mueller, FIYA Executive Director
John graduated from UCLA in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1991 with a Juris Doctorate degree. John has been involved in the administration of youth sports since 2000. From 2000-2025, John served as the Athletic Director at St. Jerome School in Westchester where he significantly increased the student participation in after school sports not only at St Jerome but at neighboring Catholic schools. St Jerome quickly earned a reputation of a great school with an excellent sports program. Consequently, from 2006-2011, he served as Associate Director of the Catholic Youth Organization in Los Angeles involving over 180 Catholic elementary schools. During his tenure, he greatly expanded CYO’s sports offerings and student participation, oversaw its grant writing development and organized the coaching certification program. Realizing that non-Catholic schools would greatly benefit from a structured after school sports program, John started FIYA in 2011 so that all elementary schools (public, private and religious) could participate. Today, FIYA is one of the largest school based sports organizations in the United States.
John Farren, FIYA Director of Operations
John is a native of New City, New York, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Boston College in 2000. Upon arriving in Los Angeles after graduation, he quickly became involved in youth sports as a coach at St Augustine School in Culver City. In 2004 John became the Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director at the school, the latter a role he held until 2013. From 2005-2011 John worked at the Catholic Youth Organization of Los Angeles as its Program Manager, overseeing the day to day operations of a program which serves over 180 grammar schools throughout Los Angeles County. Recognizing the need for after school sports beyond the Catholic school community, John started FIYA in 2011.
Nicholas Galvan, FIYA Chairman of the Board
Nicholas graduated from California State University, Northridge in 2003 where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In 2004, Nicholas obtained his real estate license and was responsible for the development and expansion of NSG Enterprises, Inc., a real estate company that he founded that same year and ran successfully until 2013.
Nicholas also served as the Director of Landlord Advertising for Westside Rentals where he managed a successful sales team of twenty direct reports. Nicholas’ passion for youth sports began at St. Augustine Catholic School in Culver City while serving as Athletic Director from 1999-2004. Since then Nicholas has remained involved with youth athletics by coaching in the California Interscholastic Federation, Delphic League, Valley Catholic League and Catholic Youth Organization, for which he received the 2010-2011 Catholic Youth Organization’s “Coach of the Year” Award.
Nicholas was FIYA's Director of Development from our founding until 2019 and is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors.