# Bundesliga (shooting)

As in many other sports, the premier German club competition in 10 metre air rifle and 10 metre air pistol is known as the Bundesliga. The league, open to both men and women, was created in 1997 and is administered by the German Shooting Federation. In each discipline, twenty four teams of five shooters each compete during a season spanning from October to February for the German team championship. Apart from the top German shooters, the league also attracts many shooters from other European countries, as well as a few from India and the United States, and involves a number of Olympic medalists and other shooters of international success.

## League format
### Match format

The Bundesliga matches mainly follow the International Shooting Sport Federation's rules for air rifle and air pistol, with the following important changes:
* All shooters fire only 40 competition shots.
* The sighting shots are not included in the match time. Instead there is a 15-minute sighting shot period before the match.
* The match time is lowered to 50 minutes. (Only electronic targets are allowed in the Bundesliga. When in lower leagues paper targets are used, the match time is 60 minutes.)
The shooters are paired up based on previous results so that the top shooters from both teams stand next to each other, and so on down. The shooter achieving the best 40-shot result in each pair wins a point for his or her team. Ties are resolved by firing single shots as needed. Thus, a match can be won by either 5–0, 4–1 or 3–2.
The match format of the Bundesliga has been so successful that the European Shooting Confederation mirrored it when creating the ESC Youth League for national teams of young shooters.

### Regular season

Each Bundesliga consists of two divisions of twelve teams each:
* Northern division (Bundesliga Nord) covering Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia and the northern part of Rhineland-Palatinate
* Southern division (Bundesliga Süd) covering Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saarland and the southern part of Rhineland-Palatinate
A single round-robin of eleven match days is conducted in each division during October–December or October–January. As shooting is a sport where the club league forms only a part of the competition season, the matches are concentrated to six weekends, organized in such a way that the clubs that placed 1–10 during the previous season have two home-range matches while the remaining two teams only have one each. In the table, teams are ranked on the number of won matches; tie-breaking criteria are 1) number of individual points won, 2) results between the concerned teams, 3) number of won points on first position (etc.).

### Finals

The top four teams of each division reach the finals (Bundesligafinale), held during a single weekend in February at the same location for both air rifle and air pistol. Quarterfinals and semifinals are held on Saturday, and bronze and gold medal matches on Sunday.

### Promotion and relegation

Below the Bundesliga are five regional leagues: Regionalliga Nord, Regionalliga West and Regionalliga Ost below the northern division; Regionalliga Südwest and Regionalliga Süd below the southern division. The twelfth-placed team of each Bundesliga division is automatically relegated to the appropriate regional league. The eleventh-placed team competes together with the two top teams of each regional league for two spots in next year's Bundesliga.
Below the regional leagues, there are leagues managed by each Landesverband (in northern Germany, these generally follow the state borders, while the large states in the south are divided into several Landesverbände).

## Winners

The following clubs have become German champions since the inception of the Bundesliga.
| Season | Air rifle | Air pistol |
| 1997–1998 | SV Affalterbach (1/3) | PSV Olympia Berlin (1/5) |
| 1998–1999 | SV Affalterbach (2/3) | PSV Olympia Berlin (2/5) |
| 1999–2000 | Kgl. Priv. FSG "Der Bund" München (1/3) | PSV Olympia Berlin (3/5) |
| 2000–2001 | Kgl. Priv. FSG "Der Bund" München (2/3) | PSV Olympia Berlin (4/5) |
| 2001–2002 | BSV Buer-Bülse (1/3) | VSS Haltern (1/2) |
| 2002–2003 | BSV Buer-Bülse (2/3) Jozef Gönci (Slovakia) Torsten Krebs Alexandra Schneider Tino Mohaupt Nadine Masuth | PSV Olympia Berlin (5/5) Uwe Potteck Martin Tenk (Czech Republic) Gernot Eder Daniel Barner Holger Buchmann |
| 2003–2004 | SV Affalterbach (3/3) Lioubov Galkina (Russia) Angela Kugele Sandra Koch Beate Gauss Frank Köstel | VSS Haltern (2/2) Franck Dumoulin (France) Michael Peirick Albert Grieskamp Klaus Lindemann Sven Hartmann |
| 2004–2005 | BSV Buer-Bülse (3/3) Alexandra Schneider Dorothee Bauer Jozef Gönci (Slovakia) Nadine Masuth Torsten Krebs | SGI Waldenburg (1/7) Vladimir Gontcharov (Russia) Leo Braun Patrik Lengerer Wolfgang Renner Franz Möndel |
| 2005–2006 | SSV St. Hubertus Elsen (1/4) Marco De Nicolo (Italy) Damian Kontny Eva Schmitz Dirk Leiwen Andre Knop | SGI Waldenburg (2/7) Leo Braun Vladimir Gontcharov (Russia) Patrik Lengerer Wolfgang Renner Franz Möndel |
| 2006–2007 | Post SV Plattling Barbara Lechner Matthew Emmons (United States) Simone Legl Franz Schreiner Karin Steinbauer | ESV Weil am Rhein Abdullah Ustaoglu Swen Jülle Markus Abt Thomas Albiez Christian Schebasta |
| 2007–2008 | SG Coburg (1/3) Kateřina Emmons (Czech Republic) Jürgen Wallowsky Michaela Wagner Claudia Huber Sabrina Bär | SGI Waldenburg (3/7) Vladimir Gontcharov (Russia) Leo Braun Patrick Lengerer Wolfgang Renner Michael Peirick |
| 2008–2009 | SG Coburg (2/3) Sabrina Bär Michaela Wagner Jürgen Wallowsky Adéla Sýkorová (Czech Republic) Claudia Huber | SV Kelheim-Gmünd (1/3) Roberto Di Donna (Italy) Munkhbayar Dorjsuren Sebastian Rosner Thomas Karsch Christoph Schultheiß |
| 2009–2010 | HSG München (1/3) | SGI Waldenburg (4/7) |
| 2010–2011 | Kgl. Priv. FSG "Der Bund" München (3/3) | SGI Waldenburg (5/7) |
| 2011–2012 | SSV St. Hubertus Elsen (2/4) | SGI Waldenburg (6/7) |
| 2012–2013 | HSG München (1/2) | SV Kriftel (1/2) |
| 2013–2014 | HSG München (2/2) | SGI Waldenburg (7/7) |
| 2014–2015 | SG Coburg (3/3) | SV Kelheim-Gmünd (2/3) |
| 2015–2016 | SSV St. Hubertus Elsen (3/4) | SV Waldkirch |
| 2016–2017 | SSV St. Hubertus Elsen (4/4) | SV Kelheim-Gmünd (3/3) |
| 2017-2018 | SB Freiheit | SV Kriftel (2/2) |

## Current clubs

The following clubs are qualified for the 2018–2019 season. Ranks from the previous season are in parentheses, the defending champions in bold and promoted teams in italics.

### Air rifle

| Northern division | Southern division |
| Braunschweiger SG 1545 | Eichenlaub Saltendorf |
| BSV Buer-Bülse | FSG Kempten |
| SB Freiheit | Kgl. Priv. FSG "Der Bund" München |
| SG 1920 Mengshausen | Kgl. Priv. FSG Titting |
| SSG Kevelaer | KKS Königsbach |
| SSV St. Hubertus Elsen | SG Coburg |
| SV Gölzau | SV Buch |
| SV Olympia 72 Börm/Dörpstedt | SV Germania Prittlbach |
| SV Kamen | SV Niederlauterbach |
| SV Wieckenberg | SV Petersaurach |
| TuS Hilgert | SV Pfeil Vöhringen |
| Wissener SV | SSG Dynamit Fürth |

### Air pistol

| Northern division | Southern division |
| Braunschweiger SG | ESV Weil am Rhein |
| Freischütz Wathlingen | HSG München |
| GTV Bremerhaven-Seestadtteufel | KKS Hambrücken |
| PSV Olympia Berlin | SGi Ludwigsburg |
| Sp.Sch. Fahrdorf | Sgi Waldenburg |
| Spsch Raesfeld | SSG Dynamit Fürth |
| SSG Teutoburger Wald | SV Altheim Waldhausen |
| SSV Bad Westernkotten | SV Kelheim-Gmünd |
| SV 1935 Kriftel | SV Murrhardt-Karnsberg |
| SV Bassum von 1848 | SV Peiting |
| SV Falke Dasbach | SV Waldkirch |
| SV Schirumer Leegmoor | TSV Ötlingen - SpSchAbtl. |

## Foreign shooters

Of the five shooters entered in a match, at least four must be German citizens. Despite this rule, many prominent foreigners participate in the league. The list of foreign shooters registered for the 2018–19 season includes the following shooters (although all did not compete in every match):
| Name | Country | Discipline | Division | Club | Best Olympic result |
| Camilla Andersen | Denmark | Rifle | North | Braunschweiger SG 1545 | |
| Katarina Bisercic | Serbia | Rifle | North | SV Olympia 72 Börm/Dörpstedt | |
| Jorge Diaz | Spain | Rifle | North | SB Freiheit | 27th, men's air rifle 2016 |
| Tomasz Bartnik | Poland | Rifle | North | SV Gölzau | |
| Maxime Brunin | Belgium | Rifle | North | SV Kamen | |
| Alexander Driagin | Russia | Rifle | North | SG 1920 Mengshausen | |
| Christoph Dürr | Switzerland | Rifle | South | FSG Kempten | |
| Živa Dvoršak | Slovenia | Rifle | South | SV Petersaurach | 11th, women's air rifle 2012 |
| Matthew Emmons | United States | Rifle | South | Der Bund München | 1st, men's prone 2004 |
| Judith Gomez | France | Rifle | South | KKS Königsbach | |
| Petar Gorša | Croatia | Rifle | North | SSG Kevelaer | 7th, men's air rifle 2016 |
| Mikkel Hansen | Denmark | Rifle | North | SV Olympia 72 Börm/Dörpstedt | |
| Peter Hellenbrand | Netherlands | Rifle | North | ST Hubertus Elsen | 5th, men's air rifle 2012 |
| Olivia Hofmann | Austria | Rifle | South | SV Niederlauterbach | 5th, women's three positions 2016 |
| Michael Höllwarth | Austria | Rifle | South | SV Petersaurach | |
| Illia Charheika | Belarus | Rifle | North | SV Gölzau | 6th, men's air rifle 2016 |
| Rikke Ibsen | Denmark | Rifle | North | Braunschweiger SG 1545 | |
| Sergey Kamenskiy | Russia | Rifle | South | SV Pfeil Vöhringen | 2nd, men's three positions 2016 |
| Henrik Larsen | Norway | Rifle | North | SV Wieckenberg | |
| Petra Lustenberger | Switzerland | Rifle | South | SV Buch | |
| Jan Lochbihler | Switzerland | Rifle | North | SG 1920 Mengshausen | 14th, men's prone 2016 |
| Stephan Martz | Switzerland | Rifle | North | TuS Hilgert | |
| Thomas Mathis | Austria | Rifle | South | FSG Kempten | 17h, men's prone 2016 |
| Nikola Mazurová | Czech Republic | Rifle | South | SG Coburg | 18th, women's air rifle 2016 |
| Alin Moldoveanu | Romania | Rifle | North | SB Freiheit | 1st, men's air rifle 2012 |
| Mandy Mulder | Netherlands | Rifle | North | SG 1920 Mengshausen | |
| Elania Nardelli | Italy | Rifle | South | SSG Dynamit-Fürth | 35th, women's three positions 2012 |
| Agnieszka Nagay | Poland | Rifle | North | SV Kamen | 8th, women's three positions 2012 |
| Stine Nielsen | Denmark | Rifle | North | SV Wieckenberg | 9th, women's air rifle 2012 |
| Alena Niskoshapskaia | Russia | Rifle | North | SV Kamen | |
| Ayonika Paul | India | Rifle | South | SV Petersaurach | 47th, women's air rifle 2016 |
| István Péni | Hungary | Rifle | North | BSV Buer-Bülse | 12th, men's three positions 2016 |
| Daniela Demjen Pešková | Slovakia | Rifle | South | Kgl. Priv. FSG Titting | 9th, women's air rifle 2008 |
| Borna Petanjek | Croatia | Rifle | North | SB Freiheit | |
| Line Petermann | Denmark | Rifle | North | SV Olympia 72 Börm/Dörpstedt | |
| Pierre-Edmond Piasecki | France | Rifle | South | Der Bund München | 6th, men's air rifle 2012 |
| Bernhard Pickl | Austria | Rifle | South | SG Coburg | |
| Marlene Pribitzer | Austria | Rifle | South | Kgl. Priv. FSG Titting | |
| Sergey Richter | Israel | Rifle | North | SSG Kevelaer | 9th, men's air rifle 2012 |
| Anton Rizov | Belarus | Rifle | South | KKS Königsbach | 22nd, men's air rifle 2012 |
| Gernot Rumpler | Austria | Rifle | North | BSV Buer-Bülse | 32nd, men's air rifle 2016 |
| Milenko Sebić | Serbia | Rifle | South | SV Pfeil Vöhringen | 11th, men's three positions 2016 |
| Pea Smeets | Netherlands | Rifle | North | Wissener SV | |
| Peter Somogyl | Hungary | Rifle | South | Eichenlaub Saltendorf | |
| Milutin Stefanovic | Serbia | Rifle | North | TuS Hilgert | 12th, men's air rifle 2016 |
| Jenny Stene | Norway | Rifle | North | BSV Buer-Bülse | |
| Martin Strempfl | Austria | Rifle | South | SV Germania Prittlbach | |
| Nicolas Thiel | France | Rifle | North | SV Wieckenberg | |
| Oleh Tsarkov | Ukraine | Rifle | South | SV Pfeil Vöhringen | 8th, men's air rifle 2016 |
| Adam Veres | Hungary | Rifle | North | Wissener SV | |
| Sanja Vukasinovic | Serbia | Rifle | North | Wissener SV | |
| Gabriela Vognarová | Czech Republic | Rifle | South | Kgl. Priv. FSG Titting | |
| Simon Weithaler | Italy | Rifle | South | SV Niederlauterbach | |
| Georg Zott | Austria | Rifle | South | SSG Dynamit-Fürth | |
| Petra Zublasing | Italy | Rifle | North | TuS Hilgert | 4th, women's three positions 2016 |
| Fernanda Russo | Argentina | Rifle | South | FSG Kempten | 20th, Shooting at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 10 metre air rifle |
| Marcelo Julian Gutierrez | Argentina | Rifle | South | FSG Kempten | |