| Countries | Japan |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Levels on pyramid | 3 |
| Feeder to | J. League Division 2 |
| Relegation to | Japanese Regional Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Emperor's Cup |
| Current champions | Sagawa Shiga (2010) |
| Most championships | Honda F.C. (4 titles) |
| Website | http://www.jfl.or.jp/ |
| 2011 Japan Football League | |
The Japan Football League (日本フットボールリーグ Nihon futtobōru Līgu) is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers play in the league.
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The Japan Football League started from the 1999 season when the second division of J. League (J2) was also born. Until then, J. League consisted of only one division and the former JFL was the second highest division. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams as well as Yokogawa Electric, the winners of the resional league play-off, formed the new Japan Football League. These 8 teams together with Yokohama F.C. that was allowed to participate as a special case after the merger of Yokohama Flügels and Yokohama Marinos competed in the inaugural 1999 season.
The 9 teams that competed in the first season were as follows: Denso S.C., Honda Motor, Jatco F.C., Kokushikan University F.C., Mito HollyHock, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Sony Sendai, Yokohama F.C. and Yokogawa Electric.
The original number of clubs was 9, as mentioned above. In the following season the number was increased to 12, reaching 16 in 2001. In 2002 it was briefly 18 clubs before going back to 16 the next season and settling for good at 18 in 2006.
Clubs may be affiliated to companies, universities, or be entirely autonomous clubs or reserve teams of these. University clubs, which as a rule do not play in the Japanese football league system, are recommended by the Japan University Football Association and must play off against bottom JFL teams for entrance. B-teams are allowed to participate but only A-squads of truly autonomous clubs are eligible for J. League Associate Membership (see below).
A club that satisfies the following criteria will be promoted to J. League Div. 2.
Up to three teams at the bottom of the league may face a direct relegation or relegation/promotion play-off against the teams finishing at the top of the All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series. The number of the teams who need to compete in the play-off varies depending on the number of the teams that are promoted to J2 or withdrawn from the JFL.
Until 2008, only the club at the top of the standings at half-season (17 matches completed) was qualified for the Emperor's Cup, entering it at the third round along with the clubs in J2, but the allotment was widened to the top three clubs in 2010 due to the expansion of J2. Every other club must qualify through a qualifying cup in their own prefecture and then must enter at the first round.
The following eighteen clubs will be competing in the 2011 season. The league will follow double round-robin system, home and away.
† J. League associate members
‡ Clubs intending to join J. League in the future.
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