German football league system

For the league system of former East Germany, see East German football league system.
German football league system
Nation
 Germany
States
 Baden-Württemberg
 Bavaria
 Berlin
 Brandenburg
 Bremen
 Hamburg
 Hesse
 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
 Lower Saxony
 North Rhine-Westphalia
 Rhineland-Palatinate
 Saarland
 Saxony
 Saxony-Anhalt
 Schleswig-Holstein
 Thuringia
Current Champions 2010–11
Borussia Dortmund (men)
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (women)

The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to a series of hierarchically interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Germany that consists of over 2,300 men's divisions, in which all leagues are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. Clubs that are successful in their league can rise higher in the pyramid, whilst those that finish at the bottom can find themselves sinking further down. The top three professional levels contain one division each. Below this, the semi-professional and amateur levels have progressively more parallel divisions, which each cover progressively smaller geographic areas. In theory it is possible for even the lowest local amateur club to rise to the top of the system and become German Football Champions. The number of teams promoted between the leagues varies, and promotion to the upper levels of the pyramid is usually contingent on meeting additional criteria, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances.

Contents

Structure

Level I: Bundesliga

The Bundesliga (English: Federal League) is the top level in the German football league system and is operated by the German Football League (German: Deutsche Fußball Liga - DFL), Germany's professional football governing body. 18 clubs compete for the title of German Football Champions in a round-robin home and away 34 matchday season. The two clubs finishing last in every season are automatically relegated to the 2. Bundesliga. The club finishing third-last plays a home and away play-off against the club finishing third in the 2. Bundesliga, with the winners earning the final spot in the next Bundesliga season.

Level II: 2. Bundesliga

The 2. Bundesliga (English: Federal League 2) is the second level in the German football league system and is also operated by the German Football League. 18 clubs compete in a round-robin home and away 34 matchday season. The two clubs finishing first in every season are automatically promoted to the Bundesliga. The club finishing third plays a home and away play-off against the club finishing third-last in the Bundesliga. The two clubs finishing last are automatically relegated to the 3. Liga. The club finishing third-last plays a home and away play-off against the club finishing third in the 3. Liga, with the winners earning the final spot in the next 2. Bundesliga season.

Level III: 3. Liga

The 3. Liga (English: League 3) is the third level in the German football league system and the lowest tier in professional football in Germany. The league is operated by the German Football Association (German: Deutscher Fußball Bund - DFB), Germany's national football association. 20 clubs compete in a round-robin home and away 38 matchday season. The two clubs finishing first in every season are automatically promoted to 2. Bundesliga. The club finishing third plays a home and away play-off against the club finishing third-last in the 2. Bundesliga. The three clubs finishing last are automatically relegated to the Regionalliga. The 3. Liga is the top tier, a reserve team of a professional club is allowed to compete. In case, reserve teams finish on promotion spots in the Regionalliga, eligible teams following in the final rankings will be promoted instead.

Level IV: Regionalliga

The Regionalliga (English: Regional League) is the fourth level in the German football league system and usually considered a semi-professional league. The league is operated by the German Football Association in cooperation with its five regional football associations. Each regional football association covers the territory of one to six German states.

Currently there are 3 Regionalliga divisions with a total of 55 clubs competing. Until the 2011–12 season, the winners of each Regionalliga division are promoted directly to the 3. Liga, whereas a number of teams finishing at the bottom of the table will be relegated to Oberliga, depending on their corresponding state football association. Due to a structural reform of the Regionalliga in 2012, relegation rules will not be in effect for the 2011–12 season.

Division

States covered

Regional association(s) covered

Regionalliga Nord

Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein (North)
Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia (Northeast)

North German Football Association (German: Norddeutscher Fußball-Verband – NFV)
Northeast German Football Association (German: Nordostdeutscher Fußball-Verband – NOFV)

Regionalliga West

North Rhine-Westphalia (West)
Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland (Southwest)

West German Football and Athletics Association (German: Westdeutscher Fußball- und Leichtathletik Verband – WFV)
Regional Football Association Southwest (German: Fußball-Regional-Verband Südwest – FRVS)

Regionalliga Süd

Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse

South German Football Association (German: Süddeutscher Fußball-Verband – SFV)

Level V: Oberliga

The Oberliga (English: Premier League) is the fifth level in the German football league system and the top amateur football league in Germany, therefore historically it was long-time named Amateur-Oberliga. The Oberliga is operated by the regional and state football associations of the German Football Association.

The jurisdiction of most state football associations covers the territory of their corresponding German state, with the exception of three state associations in North Rhine-Westfalia and Baden-Württemberg, respectively two state associations in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Currently there are 10 Oberligas, with the NOFV-Oberliga split into two divisions, totalling 11 groups, usually with 16 to 18 clubs each. Usually, the Oberliga divisions are organised by one to three state football associations. This is except for the NOFV-Oberliga, being operated by the North-East German Football Association, and except for the NRW-Liga, being operated by the West German Football and Athletics Association. Both are the governing regional bodies of the covered state associations.

With the exception of the 2011–12 season, usually the winners of each Oberliga division are promoted to Regionalliga, whereas a number of teams finishing at the bottom of the table will be relegated to their respective Verbandsliga oder Landesliga, depending on their corresponding state football association. Due to a structurual reform of the Regionalliga and some Oberliga divisions in 2012, special regulations for promotion and relegation will be in effect for the 2011–12 season.

Division

State(s) covered

State association(s) covered

Feeder to

Oberliga Hamburg

Hamburg

Hamburgian Football Association (German: Hamburger Fußball-Verband – HFV)

Regionalliga Nord

Bremen-Liga

Bremen

Bremian Football Association (German: Bremer Fußball-Verband – BFV)

Regionalliga Nord

Schleswig-Holstein-Liga

Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holsteinian Football Association (German: Schleswig-Holsteinischer Fußball-Verband – SHFV)

Regionalliga Nord

Oberliga Niedersachsen

Niedersachsen

Lower Saxonian Football Association (German: Niedersächsischer Fußball-Verband – NFV)

Regionalliga Nord

NOFV-Oberliga Nord

Berlin
Brandenburg
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Berlin Football Association (German: Berliner Fußball-Verband – BFV)
State Football Association of Brandenburg (German: Fußballlandes-Verband Brandenburg – FLB)
State Football Association of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (German: Landesfußball-Verband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – LFVMV)

Regionalliga Nord

NOFV-Oberliga Süd

Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Thuringia

Saxonian Football Association (German: Sächsischer Fußball-Verband – SFV)
Football Association of Saxony-Anhalt (German: Fußball-Verband Sachsen-Anhalt – FSA)
Thuringian Football Association (German: Thüringer Fußball-Verband – TFV)

Regionalliga Nord

NRW-Liga

North Rhine-Westphalia

Football Association of the Middle Rhine (German: Fußballverband Mittelrhein – FVM)
Football Association of the Lower Rhine (German: Fußballverband Niederrhein – FVN )
Football and Athletics Association of Westphalia (German: Fußball- und Leichtathletikverband Westfalen – FLVW)

Regionalliga West

Oberliga Südwest

Rhineland-Palatinate
Saarland

Football Association of Rhineland (German: Fußball-Verband Rheinland – FVR))
Southwest German Football Association (German: Südwestdeutscher Fußball-Verband - SWFV)
Saarlandic Football Association (German: Saarländischer Fußball-Verband – SFV)

Regionalliga West

Hessenliga

Hesse

Hessian Football Association (German: Hessischer Fußball-Verband – HFV)

Regionalliga Süd

Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg

Badenian Football Association (German: Badischer Fußball-Verband – BFV)
South Badenian Football Association (German: Südbadischer Fußball-Verband – SBFV)
Württembergian Football Association (German: Württembergischer Fußball-Verband – WFV)

Regionalliga Süd

Bayernliga

Bavaria

Bavarian Football Association (German: Bayerischer Fußball-Verband – BFV)

Regionalliga Süd

Level VI and lower

Starting at Level VI, each of the 21 German state football associations run a league pyramid under their own jurisdiction. Usually one or two top finishers of each state associations top level earn a promotion spot to Oberliga, depending on the size of the state association. Because of the autonomy of the state associations, the league systems below the Oberliga differ by name, size and covered area. A quite common state association league pyramid consists of Verbandsliga (English: Association League) or Landesliga (English: State League) at Level VI, Landesliga or Bezirksoberliga (English: County Premier League) at Level VII, and Bezirksliga (English: County League) at Level VIII. With each level deeper, the number of divisions usually multiplies by two or three, with the area covered becoming progressively smaller. In 2010–11, at tier-VI a nationwide total 33 leagues were existent, with 92 leagues at tier-VII, and 221 leagues on tier-VIII.

Below the bottom flight in every state football association, a number of district football associations run their own league pyramid with a top flight usually called Kreisliga (English: District League) or in some states Kreisoberliga (English: District Premier League) as a feeder to the state football association's pyramid. The district football associations generally cover the area of a major town or a larger district, with typically several hierarchic leagues, usually called Kreisliga A, Kreisliga B, and so on. Nationwide, over 2,300 such divisions are operated by approximately 300 district football associations.

League pyramid

2011–12 season

The 2011–12 season will be a transition year for the semi-professional Regionalliga. The number of divisions will increase from three to five starting in 2012–13. Therefore, no club will be relegated to the Oberliga, with vacant spots for the 2012–13 Regionalliga season filled by extra promotions from the various Oberligas.

Level Division
I Bundesliga
18 clubs
↓↑ 2-3 clubs
II 2. Bundesliga
18 clubs
↓↑ 2-3 clubs
III 3. Liga
20 clubs
↓ 3 clubs
↑ 1 club ↑ 1 club ↑ 1 club
IV Regionalliga Nord
18 clubs
Regionalliga West
19 clubs
Regionalliga Süd
18 clubs
↓ no clubs (due to 2012 Regionalliga reform)
↑ 9 clubs ↑ 7 clubs ↑ 7 clubs ↑ 1 club ↑ 1 club ↑ 1 club ↑ 12-13 clubs
V

Hamburgian FA league system
Bremian FA league system
Schleswig-Holsteinian FA league system
Lower Saxonian FA league system

NOFV-Oberliga Nord
16 clubs
NOFV-Oberliga Süd
16 clubs

NRW-Liga
18 clubs
Oberliga Südwest
18 clubs
Hessian FA league system Oberliga Baden-Württemberg
18 clubs
Bavarian FA league system
↓ 2 clubs ↓ no clubs ↓ 3 clubs ↓ 3 clubs
↑ 6-10 clubs ↑ NRW-Liga dissolved ↑ 3 clubs ↑ 3 clubs
VI

FA of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern league system
FA of Brandenburg league system
Berlin FA league system
FA of Saxony-Anhalt league system
Thuringian FA league system
Saxonian FA league system'

FA of the Lower Rhein league system
FA of the Middle Rhein league system
FA of Westphalia league system

FA of Rheinland league system
Saarlandic FA league system
Southwest German FA league system

Badenian FA league system
South Badenian FA league system
Württembergian FA league system

2012 Regionalliga reallocation

The clubs from the Northeast German Football Association will leave the Regionalliga Nord, forming the new Regionalliga Nordost. Therefore the Regionalliga Nord will only consist of the clubs from the North German Football Association. The Regionalliga Süd will be dissolved. The clubs from the Bavarian Football Association will form the new Regionalliga Bayern, whereas the remainder of the Regionalliga Süd, along with the clubs from the Regional Football Association Southwest will form the new Regionalliga Süd/Südwest. Therefore the Regionalliga West will only consist of the clubs from the West German Football and Athletics Association.

new 2012/13

was 2011/12

States covered

Regional association(s) covered

Regionalliga Nord

Regionalliga Nord

Bremen
Hamburg
Lower Saxony
Schleswig-Holstein

North German Football Association

Regionalliga Nordost

Regionalliga Nord

Berlin
Brandenburg
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Thuringia

Northeast German Football Association

Regionalliga West

Regionalliga West

North Rhine-Westphalia

West German Football and Athletics Association

Regionalliga Süd/Südwest

Regionalliga West

Regionalliga Süd

Rhineland-Palatinate (Southwest)
Saarland (Southwest)

Baden-Württemberg (South)
Hesse (South)

Regional Football Association Southwest

South German Football Association (except for Bavarian Football Association)

Regionalliga Bayern

Regionalliga Süd

Bavaria

Bavarian Football Association

2012–13 season

Starting from the 2012–13 season, a promotion playoff will be introduced to the Regionalliga. The winners of all 5 divisions and the runners-up of the Southwest division will contest in 3 home and away playoffs, with the winners earning a spot in the 3. Liga. The actual number of teams in every division is not final, as it will depend the regional allocation of promotions to and relegation from the 3. Liga at the end of the 2011–12 season. The five divisions are allowed a maximum of 22 clubs in the first season, with a possible reduction to 16 or 18 clubs in later seasons.

Level Division
↑ 1 playoff spot ↑ 1 playoff spot ↑ 1 playoff spot ↑ 2 playoff spots ↑ 1 playoff spot
IV Regionalliga Nord
22 clubs
Regionalliga Nordost
16 clubs
Regionalliga West
22 clubs
Regionalliga Süd/Südwest
22 clubs
Regionalliga Bayern
22 clubs
↓↑ not yet decided upon
V

Hamburgian FA league system
Bremian FA league system
Schleswig-Holsteinian FA league system
Lower Saxonian FA league system

NOFV-Oberliga Nord

NOFV-Oberliga Süd

FA of the Lower Rhein league system
FA of the Middle Rhein league system
FA of Westphalia league system

Oberliga Südwest

Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

Hessian FA league system

Bavarian FA league system
↓↑ not yet decided upon ↓↑ not yet decided upon
VI

FA of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern league system
FA of Brandenburg league system
Berlin FA league system

FA of Saxony-Anhalt league system
Thuringian FA league system
Saxonian FA league system

FA of Rheinland league system
Saarlandic FA league system
Southwest German FA league system

Badenian FA league system
South Badenian FA league system
Württembergian FA league system

Development of the German football league system

Until 1933

Until the foundation of the German Football Association there had already been lots of different regional and district championships resp. leagues and it was not until 1906 that there was a consistent mode to determine the participants of the German championship that was played as a final tournament until the foundation of the Bundesliga. For that reason football in Germany was divided into seven regions which had their own regional championships (that were mostly played as a cup tournament, too). Only the regional champions and the defending German champion were qualified to play in the championship until 1924, when the number of final tournament participants was increased to 16.

As there were no regional top-level league established the system of many parallel leagues and divisions continued up to the 1933–34 season.

From the late 1920s on there were efforts to install a nationwide professional league, but these efforts were never powerful enough to outreach the strong anti-professionalism from conservative and nationalist officials.

Level

Division

↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament

↑ Winners qualified for Regional championship tournament

↑ Winners qualified for Regional championship tournament

↑ Winners qualified for Regional championship tournament

↑ Winners qualified for Regional championship tournament

↑ Winners qualified for Regional championship tournament

↑ Winners qualified for Regional championship tournament

↑ Winners qualified for Regional championship tournament

I

North German district divisions

Berlin district divisions

Middle German district divisions

West German district divisions

South German district divisions

Baltic district divisions

Southeast German district divisions

1933–1944

National Socialism took power in Germany in January 1933. This also meant the end of attempts to invent professional football in Germany. But the football authorities did restructure and slightly centralise the football competition system. So in 1933 the Gauliga (county league) system was initiated as a system of 16 top-level divisions similar in strength that replaced the more than thirty previous top-level divisions. The champion of each Gauliga was qualified to play in the German championship tournament. With 10 teams each in the Gau leagues, the number of teams in the top flight was 160, a reduction from 400 to 500 teams until then.[1] The number of Gau leagues increased to 31 in 1944, because of league division for economic reasons (transport costs) and territory annexion during World War II.

Level

Division

↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament

I

Gauliga divisions

1947–1963

After World War II the Oberliga system developed out of the occupation zone championships. The first teams of the five West German top-level divisions (Nord, West, Südwest, Süd, Berlin) qualified for the German championship tournament. From 1949 until 1991 the German Democratic Republic had its own football league system.

Level

Division

↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for German championship tournament

I

Oberliga Nord

Oberliga Berlin

Oberliga West

Oberliga Südwest

Oberliga Süd

1963–1974

Since the late 1920s there had been plans to establish a nationwide professional top-level league, but they all failed because of the opposition by anti-professionalists and the relatively strong regional football associations. In summer 1962, under the influence of the FIFA World Cup quarter final defeat to Yugoslavia, the German Football Association decided to establish the Bundesliga as a nationwide professional football league.

The previous Oberliga became the second level of the German league system, now named Regionalliga. Its five parallel divisions (Nord, West, Südwest, Süd, Stadtliga Berlin) corresponded with the previous Oberliga divisions.

In the first two years the Bundesliga had 16 members but their number was increased to 18 in 1965. Two teams were relegated to the Regionalliga. The first two teams from each Regionalliga division and the champion of West Berlin competed in a promotion tournament in two groups, whose winners were promoted into the Bundesliga.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for Bundesliga promotion tournament

II

Regionalliga Nord

Regionalliga Berlin

Regionalliga West

Regionalliga Südwest

Regionalliga Süd

1974–1981

Soon it became obvious that the financial gap between the fully professionalised Bundesliga and the five Regionalliga divisions, where many semi-professional and even amateur-like clubs competed, was too large. Teams relegated from the Bundesliga were often in serious danger of bankruptcy. Some clubs tried to avoid this fate by match fixing, known as the 1971 Bundesliga scandal.

To narrow the gap between pro football and amateur levels, in 1974 a second professional tier was introduced with the 2. Bundesliga, having a North and a South Division with usually 20 clubs each. For the first time in Bundesliga history, the level II division champions gained direct access to the Bundesliga, as the former promotion tournament was disestablished. Instead, even the playoff winner among the two runners-up was also promoted, with relegation from the Bundesliga therefore increased to 3 clubs.

As the Regionalligas were dissolved in 1974, with about one half of the former Regionalliga clubs relegated to their corresponding fully amateur state league pyramids, between 1974 and 1978, several amateur premier leagues, called Amateur-Oberliga, were established in every region, to narrow the gap between professional football and amateur level once more.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

II

2. Bundesliga Nord

2. Bundesliga Süd

III

Amateur-Oberliga Nord

Amateur-Oberliga Berlin

Amateur-Oberliga Nordrhein
Amateur-Oberliga Westfalen

Amateur-Oberliga Südwest

Amateur-Oberliga Bayern
Amateur-Oberliga Hessen
Amateur-Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

1981–1991

In 1981 the two divisions of the 2nd Bundesliga were merged into one nationwide division with 20 teams.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

II

2. Bundesliga

↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament north

↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament south

III

Amateur-Oberliga Nord

Amateur-Oberliga Berlin

Amateur-Oberliga Nordrhein
Amateur-Oberliga Westfalen

Amateur-Oberliga Südwest

Amateur-Oberliga Bayern
Amateur-Oberliga Hessen
Amateur-Oberliga-Baden Württemberg

1991–1994

As the league systems of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were merged in 1991, the number of teams competing in the Bundesliga was temporarily increased to 20 and to make room for 24 teams the 2. Bundesliga was again divided into a North and a South division of 12 teams each.

In 1992 the number of competing teams in the Bundesliga was re-decreased to 18 with four teams relegated and only two promoted from the second level. The 2. Bundesliga played one more season with 24 teams in one division before its size was decreased to 20 members in 1993 and 18 teams in 1994.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

II

2. Bundesliga

↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament

III

Amateur-Oberliga Nord

NOFV-Oberliga Nord
NOFV-Oberliga Mitte
NOFV-Oberliga Süd

Amateur-Oberliga Nordrhein
Amateur-Oberliga Westfalen

Amateur-Oberliga Südwest

Amateur-Oberliga Bayern
Amateur-Oberliga Hessen
Amateur-Oberliga-Baden Württemberg

1994–2000

In 1994 the Regionalliga was re-established at the third-tier of the German football league system. It was divided into four divisions (Nord, Nordost, West/Südwest and Süd). Four teams were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga. At the beginning these were the four division champions, but later the champions of the Nord and Nordost division had to compete in a promotion play-off while one runner-up from the South or West division was promoted additionally.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

II

2. Bundesliga

III

Regionalliga Nord
Regionalliga Nordost

Regionalliga West/Südwest

Regionalliga Süd

IV

Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen

NOFV-Oberliga Nord
NOFV-Oberliga Süd

Oberliga Nordrhein
Oberliga Westfalen

Oberliga Südwest

Oberliga Bayern
Oberliga Hessen
Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

2000–2008

From 2000 until 2008 there were two Regionalliga divisions (Nord and Süd), the champions and runners-up of each division were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

II

2. Bundesliga

III

Regionalliga Nord

Regionalliga Süd

IV

Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen

NOFV-Oberliga Nord
NOFV-Oberliga Süd

Oberliga Nordrhein
Oberliga Westfalen

Oberliga Südwest

Oberliga Bayern
Oberliga Hessen
Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

2008–2012

In 2006, the German Football Association decided to establish a further nationwide league at the third level of the German football league system starting with the 2008–09 season. This 3rd Liga consists of 20 teams. In the starting season the league consisted of the four lowest-ranked teams of the 2. Bundesliga after the 2007–08 season and the 3rd to 10th place finishers in both the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga Süd after 2007–08 season.

The champions and the runners-up of the 3. Liga are promoted to the 2. Bundesliga. The third placed team starts in a home and away play-off against the third-last team of the 2. Bundesliga. The teams finishing 18th to 20th in the 3. Liga are relegated to the Regionalliga.

The Regionalliga was continued with an additional division (West) as fourth level of the league system. 54 teams compete in three regional divisions (North, West, South) of 18 teams each. These 54 teams consist of those Regionalliga teams that did not qualify for the 3. Liga after the 2007–08 season and additional teams from Oberliga feeders. Starting in 2008–09, the winner of each Regionalliga division will be promoted to the 3. Liga.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

II

2. Bundesliga

III

3. Liga

IV

Regionalliga Nord

Regionalliga West

Regionalliga Süd

V

Bremen-Liga
Oberliga Hamburg
Oberliga Niedersachsen
Schleswig-Holstein-Liga

NOFV-Oberliga Nord
NOFV-Oberliga Süd

NRW-Liga

Oberliga Südwest

Bayernliga
Hessenliga
Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

From 2012

Starting from the 2012–13 season, the Regionalliga will be expanded to five regional divisions. The Northern Division will be split into a Northern Division and a North-Eastern Division. The Western and the Southern Division will be divided into a Western Division, a South/South-Western Division and a Bavarian Division. The five Division winners along with the runner-up of the South-Western Division will compete for 3 promotions spots to the 3. Liga in a play-off round.

Level

Division

I

Bundesliga

II

2. Bundesliga

III

3. Liga

↑ Winners and Southwest runner-up qualified for 3. Liga promotion playoffs

IV

Regionalliga Nord

Regionalliga Nordost

Regionalliga West

Regionalliga Süd/Südwest

Regionalliga Bayern

V

Bremen-Liga
Oberliga Hamburg
Oberliga Niedersachsen
Schleswig-Holstein-Liga

NOFV-Oberliga Nord
NOFV-Oberliga Süd

Mittelrheinliga
Niederrheinliga
Oberliga Westfalen

Hessenliga
Oberliga Baden-Württemberg
Oberliga Südwest

Bayernliga Nord
Bayernliga Süd

Scheme

Germany Germany West Germany West Germany West Germany Germany Germany East Germany
Level 2008– 1994–2008 1974–1994 1963–1974 1945–1963 1933–1945 1903–1932 DDR 1949–1991
I Bundesliga Bundesliga Bundesliga Bundesliga Oberliga Gauliga Verbandsliga DDR Oberliga
II 2.Bundesliga 2.Bundesliga 2.Bundesliga Regionalliga 2.Oberliga Bezirksklasse Bezirksliga DDR Liga
III 3.Liga Regionalliga Am. Oberliga 1. Amateurliga 1. Amateurliga Kreisliga ▼ ??? DDR 2.Liga
IV Regionalliga Oberliga Verbandsliga 2. Amateurliga 2. Amateurliga 1. Kreisklasse Bezirksliga
V Oberliga Verbandsliga/Landesliga ¹ Landesliga Bezirksklasse Bezirksklasse 2. Kreisklasse Bezirksklasse
VI Verbandsliga/Landesliga¹ Landesliga/Bezirksoberliga Bezirksliga 1. Kreisklasse 1. Kreisklasse Kreisliga
VII Landesliga/Bezirksoberliga Bezirksliga Kreisliga ² 2. Kreisklasse 2. Kreisklasse 1.Kreisklasse
VIII Bezirksliga Kreisliga ² Kreisklasse A ² 3. Kreisklasse 3. Kreisklasse 2.Kreisklasse
IX Kreisliga ² Kreisklasse A ² Kreisklasse B ²
X Kreisklasse A ² Kreisklasse B ² Kreisklasse C ²
XI Kreisklasse B ² Kreisklasse C ²
XII Kreisklasse C ²

¹ in some areas called Landesliga, in others Verbandsliga.

² in some areas called Kreisliga A, Kreisliga B, Kreisliga C and Kreisliga D or 1. Kreisklasse, 2. Kreisklasse and 3. Kreisklasse.

The league structure has shifted frequently and typically reflects the degree of participation in the sport in various parts of the country. In the early 1990s, changes were driven by German reunification and the subsequent intregration of the national leagues of East and West Germany. All these levels are interconnected by way of promotion and relegation. The next diagram shows how this works for the first five levels. Note that the actual number of clubs being promoted and relegated below the Regionalliga level is frequently subject to change by the German Football Association.

League timeline 1945–2013


State association league systems

Baden

The league pyramid of the Baden Football Association (Badischer Fußballverband – BFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Verbandsliga Baden as a feeder to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg. Below the Baden league tier-IX district football associations work as feeders to the Landesliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

VI

Verbandsliga Baden
16 clubs

VII

Landesliga Mittelbaden
15 clubs

Landesliga Odenwald
17 clubs

Landesliga Rhein-Neckar
17 clubs

↓ relegation to Bruchsal, Karlsruhe or Pforzheim district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Buchen, Mosbach or Tauberbischofsheim district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Heidelberg, Mannheim or Sinsheim district FA league systems

Bavaria

The league pyramid of the Bavaria Football Association (Bayerischer Fußball-Verband – BFV) currently starts at tier-V of the German football league system with the Bayernliga as a feeder to the Regionalliga Süd. Below the Bavarian league pyramid, 24 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Due to the 2012 Regionalliga reform, the usual rules of promotion and relegation are disbanded for the 2011–12 season. Instead 9 to 13 clubs from the Bayernliga and from the three Landesliga divisions will promote to the new implemented Regionalliga Bayern. The Bayernliga itself will be split into two divisions, North and South, starting in 2012, with the number of Landesliga divisions increased to five, and with the Bezirksoberliga dissolved after the 2011–12 season.

Level

Division

promotion to Regionalliga Süd

V

Bayernliga
18 clubs

VI

Landesliga Bayern-Mitte
19 clubs

Landesliga Bayern-Nord
18 clubs

Landesliga Bayern-Süd
18 clubs

VII

Bezirksoberliga Mittelfranken
16 clubs

Bezirksoberliga Niederbayern
16 clubs

Bezirksoberliga Oberpfalz
19 clubs

Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken
16 clubs

Bezirksoberliga Unterfranken
16 clubs

Bezirksoberliga Oberbayern
16 clubs

Bezirksoberliga Schwaben
16 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Mittelfranken 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelfranken 2
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Niederbayern-Ost
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederbayern-West
14 clubs

Bezirksliga Oberpfalz-Nord
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberpfalz-Süd
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Oberfranken-West
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Unterfranken 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Unterfranken 2
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Oberbayern-Nord
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberbayern-Ost
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberbayern-Süd
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Schwaben-Nord
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Schwaben-Süd
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Erlangen/Pegnitzgrund, Neumark/Jura or Nürnberg/Frankenhöhe district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Bayerwald, Landshut, Passau or Straubing district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Amberg/Weiden, Cham/Schwandorf or Regensburg district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Bamberg/Bayreuth, Coburg/Kronach or Hof/Marktredwitz district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Aschaffenburg, Rhön, Schweinfurt or Würzburg district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Donau/Isar, Inn/Salzach, München or Zugspitze district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Allgäu, Augsburg or Donau district FA league systems

Berlin

The league pyramid of the Berlin Football Association (Berliner Fußball-Verband – BFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Berlin-Liga as a feeder to the NOFV-Oberliga Nord. As the state of Berlin consists only of the city of Berlin itself, there are no district associations. The Berlin district league pyramid is therefore organised by the state association.[2]

Level

Division

promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Nord

VI

Berlin-Liga
19 clubs

VII

Landesliga Berlin 1
16 clubs
Landesliga Berlin 2
16 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Berlin 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Berlin 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Berlin 3
16 clubs

↓ relegation to the Berlin FA district league system

Brandenburg

The league pyramid of the Brandenburg Football Association (Fußball-Landesverband Brandenburg – FLB) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Brandenburg-Liga, a feeder to the NOFV-Oberliga Nord. Below the Brandenburg league pyramid, 17 district football associations work as feeders to the Landesklasse.[3][4]

Level

Division

promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Nord

VI

Brandenburg-Liga
16 clubs

VII

Landesliga Brandenburg-Nord
16 clubs
Landesliga Brandenburg-Süd
16 clubs

VIII

Landesklasse Brandenburg-Mitte
16 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-Nord
16 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-Ost
16 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-Süd
15 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-West
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Barnim, Dahmeland, Elbe/Elster, Havelland-Mitte, Jüterbog/Luckenwalde, Märkisch Oderland, Niederlausitz, Oberhavel, Oder/Neiße, Ostprignitz/Ruppin, Ostuckermark, Prignitz, Senftenberg, Spree, Spreewald, Westhavelland or Westuckermark district FA league systems

Bremen

The league pyramid of the Bremen Football Association (Bremer Fußball-Verband – BFV) currently starts at tier-V of the German football league system with the Bremen-Liga as a feeder to the Regionalliga Nord. Below the Bremen league pyramid a total of 3 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Regionalliga Nord

V

Bremen-Liga
16 clubs

VI

Landesliga Bremen
16 clubs

VII

Bezirksliga Bremen
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Bremerhaven
15 clubs

↓ relegation to Bremen-Nord or Bremen-Stadt district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Bremerhaven district FA league system

Hamburg

The league pyramid of the Hamburgian Football Association (Hamburger Fußball-Verband – HFV) currently starts at tier-V of the German football league system with the Oberliga Hamburg as a feeder to the Regionalliga Nord. As the state of Hamburg consists only of the city of Hamburg itself, there are no district associations. The Hamburgian district league pyramid is therefore organised by the state association.

Level

Division

promotion to Regionalliga Nord

V

Oberliga Hamburg
18 clubs

VI

Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa
16 clubs

Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia
16 clubs

VII

Bezirksliga Hamburg-Nord
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Hamburg-Ost
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Hamburg-Süd
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Hamburg-West
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Hamburgian FA district league system

Hesse

The league pyramid of the Hessian Football Association (Hessischer Fußball-Verband – HFV) currently starts at tier-V of the German football league system with the Hessenliga as a feeder to the Regionalliga Süd. Below the Hesse league pyramid 32 district football associations work as feeders to the Gruppenliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Regionalliga Süd

V

Hessenliga
18 clubs

VI

Verbandsliga Hessen-Mitte
19 clubs

Verbandsliga Hessen-Nord
18 clubs

Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd
18 clubs

VII

Gruppenliga Gießen/Marburg
18 clubs

Gruppenliga Wiesbaden
19 clubs

Gruppenliga Fulda
18 clubs

Gruppenliga Kassel 1
16 clubs
Gruppenliga Kassel 2
16 clubs

Gruppenliga Darmstadt
18 clubs

Gruppenliga Frankfurt-Ost
18 clubs
Gruppenliga Frankfurt-West
18 clubs

↓ relegation to Alsfeld, Biedenkopf, Dillenburg, Frankenberg, Gießen, Marburg oder Wetzlar district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Limburg-Weilburg, Maintaunus, Rheingau-Taunus or Wiesbaden district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Fulda, Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Lauterbach-Hünfeld or Schlüchtern district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Hofgeismar, Wolfhagen, Kassel, Schwalm-Eder, Waldeck or Werra/Meißner district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Bergstraße, Darmstadt, Dieburg, Groß-Gerau or Odenwald district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Büdingen, Frankfurt, Friedberg, Gelnhausen, Hanau, Hochtaunus or Offenbach district FA league systems

Lower Rhine

The league pyramid of the Lower Rhine Football Association (Fußballverband Niederrhein – FVN) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Niederrheinliga as a feeder to the NRW-Liga. All divisions on each level run in parallel with clubs redistributed due to geographical considerations each new season. Below the Lower Rhein league pyramid 14 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to NRW-Liga

VI

Niederrheinliga
18 clubs

VII

Landesliga Niederrhein 1
16 clubs
Landesliga Niederrhein 2
17 clubs
Landesliga Niederrhein 3
16 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Niederrhein 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 3
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 4
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 5
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 6
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 7
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 8
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 9
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Bocholt, Bottrop, Duisburg/Mülheim/Dinslaken, Düsseldorf, Essen Nord/West, Essen Süd/Ost, Grevenbroich/Neuss, Kempen/Krefeld, Kleve/Geldern, Moers, Mönchengladbach/Viersen, Remscheid, Solingen or Wuppertal/Niederberg district FA league systems

Lower Saxony

The league pyramid of the Lower Saxony Football Association (Niedersächsischer Fußballverband – NFV) currently starts at tier-V of the German football league system with the Oberliga Niedersachsen as a feeder to the Regionalliga Nord. Below the Lower Saxony league pyramid 47 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Regionalliga Nord

V

Oberliga Niedersachsen
18 clubs

VI

Landesliga Braunschweig
16 clubs

Landesliga Hannover
17 clubs

Landesliga Lüneburg
17 clubs

Landesliga Weser-Ems
18 clubs

VII

Bezirksliga Braunschweig 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Braunschweig 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Braunschweig 3
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Braunschweig 4
18 clubs

Bezirksliga Hannover 1
15 clubs
Bezirksliga Hannover 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Hannover 3
17 clubs
Bezirksliga Hannover 4
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Lüneburg 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Lüneburg 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Lüneburg 3
17 clubs
Bezirksliga Lüneburg 4
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 3
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 4
17 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 5
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Braunschweig, Gifhorn, Goslar, Göttingen, Helmstedt, Northeim-Einbeck, Osterode, Peine, Salzgitter, Wolfenbüttel or Wolfsburg district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Diepholz, Hameln/Pyrmont, Hannover-Land, Hannover-Stadt, Hildesheim, Holzminden, Nienburg or Schaumburg district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Celle, Cuxhaven, Harburg, Lüchow-Dannenberg, Lüneburg, Osterholz, Rotenburg, Soltau-Fallingbostel, Stade, Uelzen or Verden district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Ammerland, Aurich, Bentheim, Cloppenburg, Delmenhorst, Emden, Emsland, Friesland, Leer, Oldenburg-Land, Oldenburg-Stadt, Osnabrück-Land, Osnabrück-Stadt, Vechta, Wesermarsch, Wilhelmshaven or Wittmund district FA league systems

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

The league pyramid of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Football Association (Landesfußballverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – LFVMV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Verbandliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern a feeder to the Oberliga Nordost-Nord. Below the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern league pyramid 6 district football associations work as feeders to the Landesklasse.[5]

Level

Division

promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Nord

VI

Verbandsliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
16 clubs

VII

Landesliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-Nord
14 clubs
Landesliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-Ost
14 clubs
Landesliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-West
14 clubs

VIII

Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern I
14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern II
14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern III
14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern IV
14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern V
14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern VI
14 clubs

↓ relegation to Mecklenburger Seenplatte-Vorpommern, Nordvorpommern-Rügen, Schwerin-Nordwestmecklenburg, Vorpommern, Warnow or Westmecklenburg district FA league systems

Middle Rhine

The league pyramid of the Middle Rhine Football Association (Fußballverband Mittelrhein – FVM) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Mittelrheinliga as a feeder to the NRW-Liga. All divisions on each level run in parallel with clubs redistributed due to geographical considerations each new season. Below the Middle Rhein league pyramid 9 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to NRW-Liga

VI

Mittelrheinliga
17 clubs

VII

Landesliga Mittelrhein 1
16 clubs
Landesliga Mittelrhein 2
15 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 3
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 4
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Aachen, Berg, Bonn, Düren, Euskirchen, Heinsberg, Köln, Rhein-Erft or Sieg district FA league systems

Rhineland

The league pyramid of the Rhineland Football Association (Fußballverband Rheinland – FVR) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Rheinlandliga as a feeder to the Oberliga Südwest. Below the Rheinland league pyramid 9 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Oberliga Südwest

VI

Rheinlandliga
18 clubs

VII

Bezirksliga Rheinland-Mitte
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Rheinland-Ost
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Rheinland-West
18 clubs

↓ relegation to Hunsrück/Mosel, Koblenz or Rhein/Ahr district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Rhein/Lahn, Westerwald/Sieg or Westerwald/Wied district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Eifel, Mosel or Trier/Saarburg district FA league systems

Saarland

The league pyramid of the Saarland Football Association (Saarländischer Fußballverband – SFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Saarlandliga as a feeder to the Oberliga Südwest. Below the Saarland league pyramid 4 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Oberliga Südwest

VI

Saarlandliga
18 clubs

VII

Verbandsliga Saarland
18 clubs

VIII

Landesliga Saarland-Nordost
18 clubs

Landesliga Saarland-Südwest
18 clubs

IX

Bezirksliga Homburg
18 clubs

Bezirksliga Neunkirchen
18 clubs

Bezirksliga St. Wendel
18 clubs

Bezirksliga Merzig
18 clubs

Bezirksliga Saarbrücken
18 clubs

Bezirksliga Saarlouis
18 clubs

↓ relegation to Nordsaar or Ostsaar district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Südsaar or Westsaar district FA league systems

Saxony

The league pyramid of the Saxony Football Association (Sächsischer Fußball-Verband – SFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Sachsenliga as a feeder to the NOFV-Oberliga Süd. Below the Saxony league pyramid 13 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.[6]

Level

Division

promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Süd

VI

Sachsenliga
16 clubs

VII

Bezirksliga Sachsen-Mitte
14 clubs
Bezirksliga Sachsen-Nord
14 clubs
Bezirksliga Sachsen-Ost
14 clubs
Bezirksliga Sachsen-West
14 clubs

↓ relegation to Chemnitz, Dresden, Erzgebirge, Leipzig, Meißen, Mittelsachsen, Muldental-Leipziger Land, Nordsachsen, Oberlausitz, Sächsische Schweiz/Osterzgebirge, Vogtland, Westlausitz or Zwickau district FA league systems

Saxony-Anhalt

The league pyramid of the Saxony-Anhalt Football Association (Fußballverband Sachsen-Anhalt – FSA) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt a feeder to the NOFV-Oberliga Süd. Below the Saxony-Anhalt league pyramid 14 district football associations work as feeders to the Landesklasse.[7]

Level

Division

promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Süd

VI

Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt
16 clubs

VII

Landesliga Sachsen-Anhalt-Nord
15 clubs
Landesliga Sachsen-Anhalt-Süd
16 clubs

VIII

Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 1
16 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 2
16 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 3
16 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 4
16 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 5
16 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 6
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Altmark-Ost, Altmark-West, Anhalt, Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Börde, Burgenland, Halle, Harz, Jerichower Land, Magdeburg, Mansfeld-Südharz, Saalekreis, Salzland or Wittenberg district FA league systems

Schleswig-Holstein

The league pyramid of the Schleswig-Holstein Football Association (Schleswig-Holsteinischer Fußballverband – SHFV) currently starts at tier-V of the German football league system with the Schleswig-Holstein-Liga as a feeder to the Regionalliga Nord. Below the Schleswig-Holstein league pyramid 14 district football associations work as feeders to the Verbandsliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Regionalliga Nord

V

Schleswig-Holstein-Liga
18 clubs

VI

Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-Ost
16 clubs

Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-West
18 clubs

Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-Ost
18 clubs

Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-West
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Kiel, Plön or Rendsburg-Eckernförde district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Dithmarschen, Flensburg, Nordfriesland or Schleswig district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Herzogtum Lauenburg, Lübeck, Ostholstein or Stormarn district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Neumünster, Segeberg or Steinburg district FA league systems

South Baden

The league pyramid of the South Baden Football Association (Südbadischer Fußball-Verband – SBFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Verbandsliga Südbaden as a feeder to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg. Below the South Baden league pyramid 24 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

VI

Verbandsliga Südbaden
16 clubs

VII

Landesliga Südbaden 1
16 clubs

Landesliga Südbaden 2
16 clubs

Landesliga Südbaden 3
16 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Baden-Baden
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Bodensee
17 clubs

Bezirksliga Freiburg
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Hochrhein
17 clubs

Bezirksliga Offenburg
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Schwarzwald
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Baden-Baden district FA league system

↓ relegation to Bodensee district FA league system

↓ relegation to Freiburg district FA league system

↓ relegation to Hochrhein district FA league system

↓ relegation to Offenburg district FA league system

↓ relegation to Schwarzwald district FA league system

Southwest

The league pyramid of the Soutwest German Football Association (Südwestdeutscher Fußballverband – SWFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Verbandsliga Südwest as a feeder to the Oberliga Südwest. Below the South West league pyramid 10 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksklasse.

Level

Division

promotion to Oberliga Südwest

VI

Verbandsliga Südwest
16 clubs

VII

Landesliga Südwest-Ost
16 clubs
Landesliga Südwest-West
16 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Nahe
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Rheinhessen
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Westpfalz
16 clubs

IX

Bezirksklasse Nahe-Ost
16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Nahe-West
16 clubs

Bezirksklasse Rheinhessen-Nord
16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Rheinhessen-Süd
16 clubs

Bezirksklasse Vorderpfalz-Mitte
16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Vorderpfalz-Nord
16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Vorderpfalz-Süd
16 clubs

Bezirksklasse Westpfalz-Mitte
16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Westpfalz-Nord
16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Westpfalz-Süd
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Bad Kreuznach or Birkenfeld district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Alzey-Worms or Mainz-Bingen district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Rhein-Mittelhaardt, Rhein-Pfalz or Südpfalz FA league systems

↓ relegation to Kaiserslautern-Donnersberg, Kusel-Kaiserslautern or Pirmasens-Zweibrücken district FA league systems

Thuringia

The league pyramid of the Thuringia Football Association (Thüringer Fußball-Verband – TFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Thüringenliga a feeder to the NOFV-Oberliga Süd. Below the Thuringia league pyramid 21 district football associations work as feeders to the Regionalklasse.

Level

Division

promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Süd

VI

Thüringenliga
16 clubs

VII

Landesliga Thüringen-Nord
16 clubs
Landesliga Thüringen-Ost
16 clubs
Landesliga Thüringen-Süd
16 clubs

VIII

Regionalklasse Thüringen 1
16 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 2
16 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 3
16 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 4
16 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 5
14 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 6
14 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 7
16 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 8
14 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 9
14 clubs

↓ relegation to Altenburg, Bad Salzungen, Eichsfeld, Eisenach, Erfurt, Gera, Gotha, Greiz, Hildburghausen, Ilm-Kreis, Jena, Kyffhäuserkreis, Meiningen, Nordhausen, Saale Orla, Saalfeld Rudolstadt, Sömmerda, Sonneberg, Unstrut-Hainich, Weimar or Werra-Rennsteig district FA league systems

Westphalia

The league pyramid of the Westphalia Football and Athletics Association (Fußball- und Leichtathletikverband Westfalen – FLVW) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with two divisions of Westfalenliga as feeders to the NRW-Liga. All divisions on each level run in parallel with clubs redistributed due to geographical considerations each new season. Below the Westphalian league pyramid 33 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Due to the 2012 Regionalliga reform, the usual rules of promotion and relegation are disbanded for the 2011–12 season. Instead the two division winners from the Westfalenliga will compete in a home and away playoff with clubs from NRW-Liga for promotion to the reorganised Regionalliga West. Playoff losers along with an additional number of 10 to 16 Westfalenliga clubs will promote to the reimplemented Oberliga Westfalen. The number of Landesliga divisions will be decreased to four, and the number of Bezirksliga divisions will be decreased to twelve after the 2011–12 season.

Level

Division

promotion to NRW-Liga

VI

Westfalenliga 1 Nordost
18 clubs
Westfalenliga 2 Südwest
17 clubs

VII

Landesliga Westfalen 1 Ost
16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 2 Süd
16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 3 West
16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 4 Nord
16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 5 Mitte
16 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Westfalen 1
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 2
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 3
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 4
17 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 5
17 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 6
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 7
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 8
15 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 9
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 10
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 11
17 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 12
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 13
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 14
15 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 15
16 clubs

↓ relegation to Ahaus-Coesfeld, Arnsberg, Beckum, Bielefeld, Bochum, Brilon, Büren, Detmold, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Gütersloh, Hagen, Herford, Herne, Höxter, Iserlohn, Lemgo, Lippstadt, Lübbecke, Lüdenscheid, Lüdinghausen, Meschede, Minden, Münster/Warendorf, Olpe, Paderborn, Recklinghausen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Soest, Steinfurt, Tecklenburg, Unna-Hamm or Warburg district FA league systems

Württemberg

The league pyramid of the Württemberg Football Association (Württembergischer Fußball-Verband – WFV) currently starts at tier-VI of the German football league system with the Verbandsliga Württemberg as a feeder to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg. Below the Württemberg league pyramid 16 district football associations work as feeders to the Bezirksliga.

Level

Division

promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

VI

Verbandsliga Württemberg
17 clubs

VII

Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 1
17 clubs

Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 2
17 clubs

Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 3
16 clubs

Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 4
16 clubs

VIII

Bezirksliga Enz/Murr
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Hohenlohe
17 clubs
Bezirksliga Rems/Murr
15 clubs
Bezirksliga Unterland
17 clubs

Bezirksliga Donau/Iller
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Kocher/Rems
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Neckar/Fils
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Stuttgart
17 clubs

Bezirksliga Alb
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Böblingen/Calw
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Nördlicher Schwarzwald
15 clubs
Bezirksliga Schwarzwald
16 clubs

Bezirksliga Bodensee
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Donau
16 clubs
Bezirksliga Riß
15 clubs
Bezirksliga Zollern
15 clubs

↓ relegation to Enz/Murr, Hohenlohe, Rems/Murr or Unterland district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Donau/Iller, Kocher/Rems, Neckar/Fils or Stuttgart district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Alb, Böblingen/Calw, Nördlicher Schwarzwald or Schwarzwald district FA league systems

↓ relegation to Bodensee, Donau, Riß or Zollern district FA league systems

References

External links

Sources