The 3rd SoCal Season of City Slams® Team Tennis Tournaments will start June 8. We look forward to even more teams participating this time. Check our article on the DRUMBEAT blog for more details.
Congratulations to the team representing the city of North Hollywood, for emerging as the champions of the second SoCal season of City Slams® tennis tournaments. They have now earned the esteemed title of Southern California City Slams Champions.
Kurt Mac Millan (center), Partner at Cognitive Wealth Management, our Season 2 Local Sponsor, graciously presented the team with their well-deserved trophies.
From left to right: Team Captain Brian Quinlivan, Samora Lawson, Dan Cramer, (Kurt) Cindy Larson, Gabrielle Shrier, Gegam Petrosian.
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First City Slams Southern California season was fun. Congrats to the Los Angeles team! See the photos here
Play for your city! Fight for your community! Play tennis with a purpose!
THE CONGA SPORTS TENNIS PATHWAY TO MORE FUN
Whether you're a beginner, a returner, or an accomplished recreational player, Conga Sports has the right program for you. And we're only now starting...
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Start/Restart (New clinic calendar coming soon)
CongaBall (LiveBall) and Booster Tournaments (New calendar coming soon)
Friday Night Tennis / Drop-In Tennis - Ask for locations and times
City Slams Team Tennis Tour for recreational players - Now recruiting for Season 3
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ABOUT US
Conga Sports Inc is revolutionizing the world of tennis by introducing an exciting new brand that combines fun and passion, captivating both seasoned players and newcomers to the sport.
VALUE PROPOSITION FOR OUR STAKEHOLDERS
For Players:
Challenge: Tournament entry fees prevent many players from entering
Solution: Tournament entry fees may sometimes be covered by sponsors
For Sponsors:
Challenge: Many players who want your products are either unknown or not accessible
Solution: Sponsorship exposes your brand/products to a larger segment of the active player market
For Facilities:
Challenge: Court time often goes unused, reducing potential recurring revenue
Solution: Conga buys court time from you, often at non-prime time hours.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF CITY SLAMS
Year 1 City Slams is a California program (proof of concept phase)
Year 2 expansion to Western Region and on to a nationwide series of events.
Year 5 expansion to Canada and Mexico for the North American City Slams.
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Message from Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole
TEAMS ARE NOW FORMING FOR THE SECOND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SEASON
The level will be 3.0/3.5/4.0 and to level the playing field, we are handicapping teams.
Each team of 6 players will have 3 men and 3 women plus subs.
We’ll play 1 men’s doubles, 1 women’s doubles, and 1 mixed doubles.
The match format will be quick 8-game pro sets.
TEAMS ARE NOW FORMING
The registration fee for each player will be $89, which covers a 1-year Conga Sports membership.
Upon winning their respective flight, the champion will compete against the winners from other flights to claim the Southern California CITY SLAMS championship. The remaining teams will continue competing in the Back Draw.
Our goal is to expand these championships to all 50 states by the end of 2026, enabling us to compete for the National CITY SLAMS Championship and vie for both bragging rights and prize money. Additionally, starting in 2026, we plan to include cities from Canada and Mexico, creating the North American CITY SLAMS Championship, which will offer even greater prize money.
INTERESTED? City Slams Second Season Sign-Ups - Claim Your City! JOIN US!Cities across the nation are embracing the idea of forming teams through City Slams, a series of short tournaments known for their fair play and enjoyable atmosphere. Each city is limited to one team, ensuring a level playing field. Whether you wish to participate as a player and be assigned to a team or take charge as the Captain and organize a team, the doors are open for you to join us and be part of this exciting initiative.
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Teams will participate in short sets of men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles for their respective cities. Each city will be represented by one team. Teams will progress through a round-robin match play at the Group Level, consisting of four teams per group. Successful teams will advance to the next level or into a Back Draw. The first round is scheduled for December 9 and 10, with subsequent rounds to be played in January and Februart (specific dates to be determined).
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City Slams teams are expected to create unique team names and uniforms. Additionally, each team must perform a team song at every tournament.
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All players are required to register and pay the full registration fees for the entire event at this stage.
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Conga Sports members can register for $49.
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Non-members can register for $89, which includes a 1-year Conga Sports membership along with various exciting benefits.
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Is City Slams a tennis league?
Not at all. City Slams is a series of Team Tournaments. Teams play for their city, their community. We call it playing tennis with a purpose.
Can City Slams wins qualify players for the US Open?
No. While it is conceivable that City Slams may add a high level division at a later date, it’s currently a recreational series of team tennis tournaments with intermediate and advanced level players.
Is City Slams just a California program?
No. City Slams starts out in California during the first half of 2023 but then rapidly expands to other states in the western region of the United States. By the end of 2026, City Slams will be a national program that operates in all 50 states.
How many players per City Slams team?
Each team has 6 players, 3 women and 3 men. Optional: 1 or 2 subs.
What is the cost of registering for City Slams?
Conga members pay $49
Non-members pay $89 which includes a 1-year Conga Sports membership
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Are there any other fees or costs involved in playing on a City Slams team?
No. All court fees, the balls, and the trophies are included.
When a club fields a team for City Slams, do all players have to be club members?
No. A club can add as many outside players to their team roster as they need to get to 6 players
Are City Slams matches only played on public courts?
No. We are currently examining partnership arrangements with groups of private clubs to use their courts, in addition to team clubs and public courts in certain areas.
How many teams can represent one city?
Only one team per city is allowed. To illustrate: If the LA Tennis Club elects to participate for Los Angeles, the Brentwood Country Club must play for the Brentwood neighborhood.
What are the elements of other sports City Slams plans to include
To make tennis more interesting we play shorter matches and introduce 3 flags per team per set for challenges and coaching issues.
What is the tennis format of City Slams?
Each match consists of 1 men’s doubles, 1 women’s doubles, and 1 mixed doubles 8-game sets. Each game won counts for all teams.
Local Group Level matches are played as a 4-team round-robin event. Group winners advance, the other teams go into a Back Draw.
What is the level of play for City Slams teams?
Generally, City Slams players play at levels 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0. We level the playing field by using a handicapping system. So, a 3.0/3.5 team has the same chances as a 4.0/4.0 team.
If two teams have the same points after all matches are played, how do you break that tie?
Before each match, both team captains have to present a confidential list of all players to the tournament desk, with players numbered from 1 to 6. The list will not be seen by the opponents and the sequence cannot be changed. A player on this list can be changed if another player comes in as a substitute for him or her during the regular match.
When it comes to play the tiebreaker, the two teams line up on opposite ends of a court and play 1 singles point each according to the list.
If, after 12 points, it is still a tie, each captain can denote one player to play one more point.
Will the matches have an umpire present?
There will be one tennis teaching pro as umpire at City Slams Finals. At Group Level, matches will have at least one Conga staff observer and umpire. The umpire is also Emcee and sideline coach answering the call for flags. The sideline coach’s decisions are final.
Is that it?
No, there’s more.
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Every team is required to come up with an interesting team name.
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Every team is encouraged to show up with interesting, funky team uniforms.
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Every team is also required to prepare a team song which they are expected to perform at the tournaments.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM COMPETING FOR LOS ANGELES FOR WINNING THE INAUGURAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CITY SLAMS CHAMPIONSHIP!
This is how it all began...
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March 25 at Weddington Golf & Tennis
in Studio City
The team representing Studio City all wore red tops, while the team from Los Angeles opted for a Hawaiian theme. Their creative choice ultimately led to them winning the Best Team Outfit contest.
Following the conclusion of the initial round of matches, it was determined that the team representing the City of Pasadena (on the left) performed admirably but unfortunately finished last, resulting in their elimination from the competition. On the other hand, the teams representing Studio City, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles were successful in their matches and advanced to the next round. We extend our gratitude to Captain Jeff Korerat of the Pasadena team for leading a commendable team and demonstrating unwavering determination throughout the competition.
April 22 at Santa Monica Tennis Club
The teams from Studio City, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles competed on a Saturday afternoon in the picturesque city of Santa Monica. The home team displayed great determination, but even the advantage of playing on their home turf did not aid their victory. I extend my gratitude to Captain Tom Holton for leading his team with such resilience and for being a gracious host. The Studio City team emerged victorious in the Best Team Song contest (watch the video on the right) and advanced to the finals alongside the Los Angeles team.
May 24 Final at MountainGate Country Club
Two motivated teams competed in the inaugural City Slams final. Representing the city of Los Angeles, the MountainGate Country Club team went head-to-head against the Studio City team on a Wednesday evening. Being recognized as one of the leading tennis clubs in Southern California, MountainGate Country Club provided an exceptional venue for the tournament, with their impeccable courts enhancing the overall experience for all participants.
Both teams are represented in the photo above, with almost all of their players present. In the center back stands Brian Teacher, the 1980 Australian Open Singles Champion. Following the event, Mr. Teacher kindly distributed the awards and captivated the audience with remarkable anecdotes about his victorious 1980 Grand Slam triumph. Below the photo, videos showcasing the amusing Best Team Song entries are shared, with the Studio City team ultimately emerging as the winners.
Congratulations to Captain Carlos Yguico and his team for their victory in the first City Slams Championship in Southern California. The Los Angeles team demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the competition. We also extend our appreciation to Captain Luis Sanchez and the Studio City team for their sportsmanship and contribution to the tournament. We look forward to their participation in the upcoming season.
After attending the City Slams Final, Nikki and Rich, as representatives of Conga Sports Inc, have gained valuable insights that will be instrumental in refining our program for the upcoming season. We express our gratitude to all the participants for their involvement in this remarkable event.