Urban Sports LA

Solid. Well-​organized. Great ratio. Cool and chill people. Not sketch.

Just signed up for the flag football league and though I haven’t even started playing yet, I already felt the need to leave a review!
Their customer service team is so awesome! They always got back to me right away with any questions we had and even went the extra mile to really, really help us out. We had a player who couldn’t afford the cost and had already missed out on the discount code. They were nice enough to get us a new code for her to use and let us know that they never want people to be unable to participate due to financial restraints. Wow, that’s so nice! I’ve never had any other league or org help us out like that.
Quoting this from an email they sent to me about asking for help regarding a team member:
«…helping people when it really matters is something we love to do.» Holds true so far!

It would be hard to say enough great things about the organization and the creators of the league to show how impressed we have been from start to finish.
I’ve been part of 5 different sessions now, 3 volleyball and 2 Sunday Funday and will be continuing to play as long as I’m in LA. Signing up as a free agent is really easy, and getting placed on a team with some people who may know each other, and some that may not know anyone makes things fun.
When I moved out to LA 2 years ago not knowing anyone, I wanted to get involved with some sort of weekend activity to enjoy the weather and meet new people. USLA has provided much more than that giving me the opportunity to meet a bunch of great people, and get exposed to an organization that really cares about philanthropy.
The commitment to giving back to charity in the form of monetary donations as well as volunteering has been something Jeff, Sae and Steve have really stressed through the 2 years I’ve been involved.
If you are looking to meet new people, get off the couch, give back to the community or just find a new drinking buddy, USLA should be #1 on your list.

This review is only for the Flag Football portion of USLA, and only from one woman’s perspective, just to make sure that everyone understands what they’re getting into with this very low scored review.
My boyfriend and I joined USLA’s Flag Football program in September of this year and neither of us were very impressed or happy with it — especially me. This is supposed to be a COED sport, but it was one of the most blatantly sexist arrangements I have ever come into contact with. So LADIES who are considering joining, heads up. I understand that the sport is just trying to make sure that men act like respectful human beings and include their female counterparts during the games, but here are the (terrible) rules:
1. Every 3 plays must be a girl play. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to catch it, it (literally) just has to HIT you. That can be in the arm, the leg, the face, wherever — it counts. The guys are well aware of this and will remind the team when a girl play comes around that you «only have to hit her with it.» The men will remind you that you, as a female, should only take five steps and then they’ll throw it «extra soft» (this is verbatim) to you. Females should NOT ask to do a long run, because everyone will scoff and say they’re in this to win. Also, should you, as a girl, choose to — or be allowed to — play QB, expect to only be allowed to hand off or throw a short distance. Which combines with rule #2. In addition to all of this, because the girl play HAS to happen on the third play, the guys will often say things like «let’s just get the girl play out of the way on this play so we don’t have to do it on the next one.» Hooray for inclusion!
2. If a girl makes a touchdown, you get 8 points instead of the usual 6 a guy would get. Again, I understand that they’re trying to get the boys to include the girls, but do you really need to bribe them? Shouldn’t they just understand that this is a weekend game where adults pull ribbons off of each other’s waists, so winning isn’t a huge deal and being inclusive of all team members is?
I overheard one guy on the grey team speaking to someone on our team about how a girl left their team because she wanted to be quarterback and they said no «because they want to win,» and my teammate said «oh well, at least there will be less drama now. Did she just think she was good? I hate that.» WOW GUYS WOW. This is a glorified game of fetch. No one wins anything if you win the playoffs. Bragging rights for a fake sport will get you nowhere and there are no football scouts standing on the sidelines waiting to pull you away from this game and place you onto a real NFL team.
And if you think I’m just being overly feminist about this, you’re wrong. My boyfriend agreed with this and stopped wanting to even go to the games because of it, my neighbor (who joined with us) stopped showing up because he didn’t enjoy the overly competitive players and the leaving out of those «less desirable.»
So, TL;DR If you are a female, girl, woman, lady (anything that will show up when you search the reviews for this program), be wary. We won’t be returning for another season, and that’s a real shame because I loved playing on the Kickball league in Sacramento and thought the softball teams were great — but this was the worst part of my week for 7 weeks. I thought that all of the 5 star reviews meant it would be wonderful and worth my time, but I was wrong and wish I would’ve been warned that I would be spending $ 125 for 7 Sundays full of sexism. No one on our team hung out before or after any of the games and no one on our team showed up for any of the USLA meet ups. The bar that is offering drink deals through this program is at some douchey frat bar wayyyy far away from any of the fields. Didn’t get included in the sport, didn’t hang out with new friends, and didn’t get to drink discounted alcohol. Overall, the whole thing was a waste of money.
EDIT: I’ve raised my help review from 1 star to 2 stars because USLA was very quick and professional in addressing my complaints and granting me a refund. I’m still completely disappointed with the flag football league, but the USLA company as a whole is not to blame for that.

I have really enjoyed my experience with Urban Sports LA. I have participated in 2 seasons of kickball and I am looking forward to the next season. I joined as a free agent and have met some really great people. The organizers put in a lot of effort to make sure everything runs smoothly and are very personable.

I’ve been apart of this league for 2 years now and I’ve met a lot of new people that I can now call my friends. The organizers, staff, and referees are all about making it a competitive but fun and safe environment for everyone. I would highly recommend checking them out if you’re on the Westside. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday. Going outside, getting some sun, hanging out with your friends, playing competitive sports and ending the day with some good ol fashioning drinking.
Truly one of the best experiences I’ve been apart of. Thank you USLA.

USLA was overall such a great experience. Not only are you able to meet a ton of new people, but everyone is there for a good time. I joined the kickball team with my friend, not knowing what to expect. It turned out to be such a great experience. Even though it turns out I lost all my kickball skills from high school, my team was extremely supportive and had great attitudes. The summer season started during the time of the NBA playoffs and we were able to all go back a sports bar in Culver City called The Garage. It didn’t matter what team you were on, everyone was there to drink, mingle, and watch the game.
The owners of the league hang out and party with you too! It was honestly such a breath of fresh air from the reality of the work week. You’re able to turn to a whole new group of friends to just let loose with on Sundays.
Will definitely be joining for fall!

The culture of a team is dictated by those who lead it — and that’s what urban sports la is, one big team. wait, scratch that, family.
A coworker of mine gathered a bunch of us to join the league by forming a kickball team last year. Proud to say that 5 seasons (and counting) in, this team of nerdy accountants, their friends and some free agents has definitely formed some strange family like bond. (I mean what else would keep our most prized free agent and pitcher coming back to us season after season??)
The organizers of this league have definitely cultivated a culture of free spirited fun, drinking AND giving back to the community.
Highlights:
1. Sports include kickball, flag football, volleyball (Sundays), cornhole (weekday night) and sunday funday (winter season with a variety of games/​activities)
2. 1 spirit week per season. Teams get to get creative with costumes with a chance to win a $ 100 bar tab prize. (won’t mention how many times we’ve won this one. oh wait I just did)
3. USLA t-​shirt included with membership fee. Try and collect all the colors!
4. Kick off parties & specially priced USLA menu at a bar after your games. Plus, the organizers oftentimes throw out free food & beer… depending upon how many drinks they’ve had themselves? ;)
5. Opportunities to participate in community service events. You can also feel good knowing part of your membership fee goes towards donations to a non-​profit org.

USLA is the best local sports league around!
The guys who run the league are very friendly and welcoming and they make an effort to learn everyone’s name so you feel welcome at the bar after the games (Everyone goes to the same local bar — and they usually provide free beer for drinking games as well as discounted prices on food & drinks!)
This league is a great way to meet new people and play some competitive sports at the same time
I also love that USLA provides a great variety of activities to sign up for: kickball, flag football, volleyball, cornhole, etc.

The funnest sports league I’ve been a part of! I first signed up in 2013 for the Sunday Funday league as a free agent and it was a great way to meet new people (mostly in their 20s and early 30s). Having just moved here from the midwest, I didn’t have any friends in LA yet and this was the perfect league for that. My team consisted of many free agents and everyone was friendly. I’ve also played Kickball and Cornhole and have had fun every single time. Everyone goes to the bar afterwards and the guys who run the league, Sae, Steve, and Jeff are amazing and make sure everyone feels welcomed by introducing you to new people or even just by buying you a beer sometimes! They’re awesome! Tons of stuff going on at the bar after games too and most people usually end up going. I’ll be signing up for seasons to come.

I look forward to the weekends just so I can play flag football!
Everything is so well organized and the competition is awesome. I’ve played in several seasons now and it keeps getting better and better.
I haven’t had the chance to explore the other sports they offer but I am positive it is equally fun.
Thank you for being so awesome!

The best local sports league I’ve played with. I’ve been playing flag football with these guys for 4 seasons and it’s been a ton of fun. They’re well organized, professional and just a good group of guys. The level of competition ranges from beginner to players with collegiate experience so there’s something for everyone.
I’d recommend any of the sports they offer to anyone interested. They do a great job getting groups of friends playing or getting single players on to a team and getting them integrated.

Joined last season for kickball. It was a ton of fun! You can tell the guys who started the league genuinely care about its members and about the well-​being of the league itself.
At first I was kind of hesitant because I haven’t played kickball since elementary school, but I’m glad I ended up signing up. It’s a very laidback, chill atmosphere but also semi-​competitive as well. Definitely a great active way to spend your Sundays! After the games a lot of the teams will go back to Busby’s for some good ol’ drinking games so you can relive your college youth again.
They had a spirit week which was cool, where teams dressed up in different costumes to compete for a $ 100 bar tab. Looking forward to joining again!

I first joined USLA Spring of 2015. I must say I enjoyed every moment of it. I signed up for Flag Football as a free agent and USLA organized a team for us misfits. As a result, I’ve met new people and developed new relationships. It is somewhat lame to say, but since football season was over, I would impatiently wait for Sunday to come so I can hang out with my new friends and play football together.
If you like meeting new people and playing sports, I would highly recommend this league.

This was the first sports league I’ve joined in LA and they were fantastic. I moved to the area from the east coast without knowing many people. This was a great way to meet new friends and have a relaxing atmosphere to compete. I joined without a team or knowing anyone and quickly made friends with my team mates. Everyone is friendly, adds a healthy amount of competition, and knows how to have fun. I definitely recommend trying out this group for your local recreation league.

I joined Urban Sports LA with a friend for the first time this year, and it was an awesome experience.
We ended up playing flag football with other free agents and it was a blast. Everyone I met was friendly, and it was great playing with and getting to know my teammates too.
The league itself is also very organized with official refs, email reminders about your schedule, team colored t-​shirts, and professional as well as friendly staff.
I really liked that the games were competitive and still fun.
It’s a great league to play sports and meet new friends. I would definitely recommend checking it out!

So Urban Sports LA is pretty fkin great! I first heard about Urban Sports LA through an email I received from Steve regarding what it is and how to sign up. So I browsed the website and thought the concept was really cool. I ended up signing up for the flag football league and got my sorority sister to join as well!
It’s only $ 85 for the season, however, if you join with a friend, its only $ 75. The cost goes towards equipment, referee fees, and beer/​food discounts at Busby’s. The season lasts for 8 weeks and we play every Sunday in West LA. It’s great because the team is co-​ed so you’re meeting both guys and girls, and they have a rule where every third play has to be a girl play so a girl is allowed to run the ball. Everyone is super nice and friendly here. We also go to Busby’s West after our games and play rage cage, beer pong, and flip cup! It’s a great way to bond over sports and beer! I’m really glad I joined Urban Sports LA, it really brings me back to my high school/​college days! I’m also able to stay active while meeting new people! I just wish they had a beach volleyball league instead of grass volleyball, I would totally sign up!

I spent several months trying to find a good flag football league in Los Angeles, and USLA was a clear winner. They go above and beyond most other rec sports organizations in terms of creating a fun, inclusive atmosphere both at the games and at the numerous related events they host. I was on a team with friends that I already knew, but even if you don’t have enough people to form a full team, joining as a free agent is a good way to go — you’ll get placed on a team who needs extra players and have a great opportunity to meet some cool new people.
There was a wide range of skill level playing in the games, so don’t hesitate to join up even if you feel like you’re inexperienced — you’ll be fine.
I’ll definitely be playing again!

I moved to Los Angeles December 2012 for my masters program at USC. Lack of social life ensued. It wasn’t until Fall 2013 that I found out about Urban Sports LA through the Just Graduated College Facebook group. Boy am I super glad I saw Steve Lee’s post inviting people to join the Fall 2013 season.
Sunday Funday was a whirlwind of games that changed up each week. Sand castle building one week, dodge ball the next, scavenger hunt, kickball, volleyball and a great urban race another. I loved the variety.
My team (Cereal Killers) was a great mix of people from across Los Angeles and we all had fun each week. Even though sometimes we struggled. The final event of the season, our team beat the other by just 5 minutes (thanks to riding the subway, a red rapid bus and running like crazy.)
Sometimes competition gets a little heated. That’s natural for a sports league. When you get to the bar after the game, people have cooled off. Everyone’s having a drink, relaxing and being friendly.
This is the league to make friends and meet new people. Ed, Sae, Jeff & Steve (the organizers) are super cool, very chill and you see them at the bar after the games. They’re invested in people having fun, having a personal experience, and getting to know you and your teammates.
A group of us USLA’ers went out to DINE LA at Waterloo & City not that long ago. USLA seems to be evolving beyond just a league and into this big family of friends who hang out, drink, and play together. I’m back again this season for kickball on Sundays and corn hole (bean bag toss) on Thursdays. I look forward to each of these days a lot.
When you divide the season fees by 8 weeks, it is a really good deal. Dare I say better than going to some super packed club that charges you $ 20 for admission, $ 12 for drinks, and then smushes you together with random ass strangers who A.) drunkenly grope you and B.) end up getting into fights (then the cops come in to finish the evening). Plus, a portion of the fees goes to charitable causes like Special Olympics Southern California and the American Cancer Society.
Like my teammate Monica S. says, I would highly recommend getting involved with USLA!

Randomly got sucked in to USLA by some friends who were joining a flag football team last year and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’ve played every season since and have met so many great people. The competition gets fierce on the field but once we’re back at the bar we’re all friends again. If you’re lookin for a sports league to join this is the one.
#purpleswag