German Football Leagues

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.
== 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 Assocation (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 Assocation. 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 	Division 	Division 	Division 	Division 	Division 	Division
I 	Bundesliga18 clubs 	Bundesliga18 clubs 	Bundesliga18 clubs 	Bundesliga18 clubs 	Bundesliga18 clubs 	Bundesliga18 clubs 	Bundesliga18 clubs
 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs
II 	2. Bundesliga18 clubs 	2. Bundesliga18 clubs 	2. Bundesliga18 clubs 	2. Bundesliga18 clubs 	2. Bundesliga18 clubs 	2. Bundesliga18 clubs 	2. Bundesliga18 clubs
 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs 	↓↑ 2-3 clubs
III 	3. Liga20 clubs 	3. Liga20 clubs 	3. Liga20 clubs 	3. Liga20 clubs 	3. Liga20 clubs 	3. Liga20 clubs 	3. Liga20 clubs
 	↓ 3 clubs 	↓ 3 clubs 	↓ 3 clubs 	↓ 3 clubs 	↓ 3 clubs 	↓ 3 clubs 	↓ 3 clubs
 	↑ 1 club 	↑ 1 club 	↑ 1 club 	↑ 1 club 	↑ 1 club 	↑ 1 club 	↑ 1 club
IV 	Regionalliga Nord18 clubs 	Regionalliga Nord18 clubs 	Regionalliga West19 clubs 	Regionalliga West19 clubs 	Regionalliga Süd18 clubs 	Regionalliga Süd18 clubs 	Regionalliga Süd18 clubs
 	↓ no clubs (due to 2012 Regionalliga reform)	↓ no clubs (due to 2012 Regionalliga reform)	↓ no clubs (due to 2012 Regionalliga reform)	↓ no clubs (due to 2012 Regionalliga reform)	↓ no clubs (due to 2012 Regionalliga reform)	↓ no clubs (due to 2012 Regionalliga reform)	↓ 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 Assocation. 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 Assocation. 
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 Assocation
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 	Division 	Division 	Division 	Division 	Division	Division
 	↑ 1 playoff spot 	↑ 1 playoff spot 	↑ 1 playoff spot 	↑ 2 playoff spots 	↑ 1 playoff spot 	 	
IV 	Regionalliga Nord18 clubs	Regionalliga Nordost16 clubs	Regionalliga West19-20 clubs	Regionalliga Süd/Südwest21-22 clubs	Regionalliga Bayern18-21 clubs	 	
 	↓↑ not yet decided upon 	↓↑ not yet decided upon 	↓↑ not yet decided upon 	↓↑ not yet decided upon 	↓↑ 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
 ↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ 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. 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for German championship tournament	
 ↑ 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ Winners and runners-up qualified for Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
II	
2. Bundesliga Nord	
2. Bundesliga Nord	
2. Bundesliga Nord	
2. Bundesliga Süd	
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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
II	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga
	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament north	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament north	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament north	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament south	
 ↑ 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
II	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga
	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ Winners qualified for 2. Bundesliga promotion tournament	
 ↑ 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
II	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga
III	
Regionalliga Nord
Regionalliga Nordost	
Regionalliga Nord
Regionalliga Nordost	
Regionalliga West/Südwest	
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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
II	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga
III	
Regionalliga Nord	
Regionalliga Nord	
Regionalliga Nord	
Regionalliga Süd	
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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
II	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga
III	
3. Liga	
3. Liga	
3. Liga	
3. Liga	
3. Liga
IV	
Regionalliga Nord	
Regionalliga Nord	
Regionalliga West	
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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
I	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga	
Bundesliga
II	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga	
2. Bundesliga
III	
3. Liga	
3. Liga	
3. Liga	
3. Liga	
3. Liga
	
 ↑ Winners and Southwest runner-up qualified for 3. Liga promotion playoffs	
 ↑ Winners and Southwest runner-up qualified for 3. Liga promotion playoffs	
 ↑ Winners and Southwest runner-up qualified for 3. Liga promotion playoffs	
 ↑ Winners and Southwest runner-up qualified for 3. Liga promotion playoffs	
 ↑ 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 1990's, 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 1945–2009 ==
== 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	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg
VI	
Verbandsliga Baden16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Baden16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Baden16 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Mittelbaden15 clubs	
Landesliga Odenwald17 clubs	
Landesliga Rhein-Neckar17 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd
V	
Bayernliga18 clubs	
Bayernliga18 clubs	
Bayernliga18 clubs	
Bayernliga18 clubs	
Bayernliga18 clubs	
Bayernliga18 clubs	
Bayernliga18 clubs
VI	
Landesliga Bayern-Mitte19 clubs	
Landesliga Bayern-Mitte19 clubs	
Landesliga Bayern-Mitte19 clubs	
Landesliga Bayern-Nord18 clubs	
Landesliga Bayern-Nord18 clubs	
Landesliga Bayern-Süd18 clubs	
Landesliga Bayern-Süd18 clubs
VII	
Bezirksoberliga Mittelfranken16 clubs	
Bezirksoberliga Niederbayern16 clubs	
Bezirksoberliga Oberpfalz19 clubs	
Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken16 clubs	
Bezirksoberliga Unterfranken16 clubs	
Bezirksoberliga Oberbayern16 clubs	
Bezirksoberliga Schwaben16 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Mittelfranken 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelfranken 216 clubs	
Bezirksliga Niederbayern-Ost16 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederbayern-West14 clubs	
Bezirksliga Oberpfalz-Nord16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberpfalz-Süd16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Oberfranken-West16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Unterfranken 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Unterfranken 216 clubs	
Bezirksliga Oberbayern-Nord16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberbayern-Ost16 clubs
Bezirksliga Oberbayern-Süd16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Schwaben-Nord16 clubs
Bezirksliga Schwaben-Süd16 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.Berlin FA divisons 2011/12
Level	
Division
	
↑ promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Nord
VI	
Berlin-Liga19 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Berlin 116 clubs
Landesliga Berlin 216 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Berlin 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Berlin 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Berlin 316 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.Brandenburg FA divisons 2011/12Brandenburg FA promotion and relegation 2010/11
Level	
Division
	
↑ promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Nord
VI	
Brandenburg-Liga16 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Brandenburg-Nord16 clubs
Landesliga Brandenburg-Süd16 clubs
VIII	
Landesklasse Brandenburg-Mitte16 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-Nord16 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-Ost16 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-Süd15 clubs
Landesklasse Brandenburg-West16 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	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord
V	
Bremen-Liga16 clubs	
Bremen-Liga16 clubs
VI	
Landesliga Bremen16 clubs	
Landesliga Bremen16 clubs
VII	
Bezirksliga Bremen16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Bremerhaven15 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	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord
V	
Oberliga Hamburg18 clubs	
Oberliga Hamburg18 clubs	
Oberliga Hamburg18 clubs	
Oberliga Hamburg18 clubs
VI	
Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa16 clubs	
Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa16 clubs	
Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia16 clubs	
Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia16 clubs
VII	
Bezirksliga Hamburg-Nord16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Hamburg-Ost16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Hamburg-Süd16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Hamburg-West16 clubs
	
↓ relegation to Hamburgian FA district league system	
↓ relegation to Hamburgian FA district league system	
↓ relegation to Hamburgian FA district league system	
↓ 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Süd
V	
Hessenliga18 clubs	
Hessenliga18 clubs	
Hessenliga18 clubs	
Hessenliga18 clubs	
Hessenliga18 clubs	
Hessenliga18 clubs
VI	
Verbandsliga Hessen-Mitte19 clubs	
Verbandsliga Hessen-Mitte19 clubs	
Verbandsliga Hessen-Nord18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Hessen-Nord18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd18 clubs
VII	
Gruppenliga Gießen/Marburg18 clubs	
Gruppenliga Wiesbaden19 clubs	
Gruppenliga Fulda18 clubs	
Gruppenliga Kassel 116 clubs
Gruppenliga Kassel 216 clubs	
Gruppenliga Darmstadt18 clubs	
Gruppenliga Frankfurt-Ost18 clubs
Gruppenliga Frankfurt-West18 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	
Niederrheinliga18 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Niederrhein 116 clubs
Landesliga Niederrhein 217 clubs
Landesliga Niederrhein 316 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 316 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 416 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 516 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 616 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 716 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 816 clubs
Bezirksliga Niederrhein 916 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	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord
V	
Oberliga Niedersachsen18 clubs	
Oberliga Niedersachsen18 clubs	
Oberliga Niedersachsen18 clubs	
Oberliga Niedersachsen18 clubs
VI	
Landesliga Braunschweig16 clubs	
Landesliga Hannover17 clubs	
Landesliga Lüneburg17 clubs	
Landesliga Weser-Ems18 clubs
VII	
Bezirksliga Braunschweig 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Braunschweig 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Braunschweig 316 clubs
Bezirksliga Braunschweig 418 clubs	
Bezirksliga Hannover 115 clubs
Bezirksliga Hannover 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Hannover 317 clubs
Bezirksliga Hannover 416 clubs	
Bezirksliga Lüneburg 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Lüneburg 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Lüneburg 317 clubs
Bezirksliga Lüneburg 416 clubs	
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 316 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 417 clubs
Bezirksliga Weser-Ems 516 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.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern FA promotion and relegation 2011/12
Level	
Division
	
↑ promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Nord
VI	
Verbandsliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern16 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-Nord14 clubs
Landesliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-Ost14 clubs
Landesliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-West14 clubs
VIII	
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern I14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern II14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern III14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern IV14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern V14 clubs
Landesklasse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern VI14 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	
Mittelrheinliga17 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Mittelrhein 116 clubs
Landesliga Mittelrhein 215 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 316 clubs
Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 416 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	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest
VI	
Rheinlandliga18 clubs	
Rheinlandliga18 clubs	
Rheinlandliga18 clubs
VII	
Bezirksliga Rheinland-Mitte16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Rheinland-Ost16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Rheinland-West18 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest
VI	
Saarlandliga18 clubs	
Saarlandliga18 clubs	
Saarlandliga18 clubs	
Saarlandliga18 clubs	
Saarlandliga18 clubs	
Saarlandliga18 clubs
VII	
Verbandsliga Saarland18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Saarland18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Saarland18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Saarland18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Saarland18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Saarland18 clubs
VIII	
Landesliga Saarland-Nordost18 clubs	
Landesliga Saarland-Nordost18 clubs	
Landesliga Saarland-Nordost18 clubs	
Landesliga Saarland-Südwest18 clubs	
Landesliga Saarland-Südwest18 clubs	
Landesliga Saarland-Südwest18 clubs
IX	
Bezirksliga Homburg18 clubs	
Bezirksliga Neunkirchen18 clubs	
Bezirksliga St. Wendel18 clubs	
Bezirksliga Merzig18 clubs	
Bezirksliga Saarbrücken18 clubs	
Bezirksliga Saarlouis18 clubs
	
↓ relegation to Nordsaar or Ostsaar district FA league systems	
↓ relegation to Nordsaar or Ostsaar district FA league systems	
↓ relegation to Nordsaar or Ostsaar district FA league systems	
↓ relegation to Südsaar or Westsaar district FA league systems	
↓ relegation to Südsaar or Westsaar 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.http://www.sfv-online.de/files/auf-_und_abstiegsregelung_herren_11-12.pdf Saxony FA promotion and relegation 2011/12
Level	
Division
	
↑ promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Süd
VI	
Sachsenliga16 clubs
VII	
Bezirksliga Sachsen-Mitte14 clubs
Bezirksliga Sachsen-Nord14 clubs
Bezirksliga Sachsen-Ost14 clubs
Bezirksliga Sachsen-West14 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.Saxony-Anhalt FA regulations 2011/12
Level	
Division
	
↑ promotion to NOFV-Oberliga Süd
VI	
Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt16 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Sachsen-Anhalt-Nord15 clubs
Landesliga Sachsen-Anhalt-Süd16 clubs
VIII	
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 116 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 216 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 316 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 416 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 516 clubs
Landesklasse Sachsen-Anhalt 616 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	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord	
↑ promotion to Regionalliga Nord
V	
Schleswig-Holstein-Liga18 clubs	
Schleswig-Holstein-Liga18 clubs	
Schleswig-Holstein-Liga18 clubs	
Schleswig-Holstein-Liga18 clubs
VI	
Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-Ost16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-West18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-Ost18 clubs	
Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-West16 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	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg
VI	
Verbandsliga Südbaden16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südbaden16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südbaden16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südbaden16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südbaden16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südbaden16 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Südbaden 116 clubs	
Landesliga Südbaden 116 clubs	
Landesliga Südbaden 216 clubs	
Landesliga Südbaden 216 clubs	
Landesliga Südbaden 316 clubs	
Landesliga Südbaden 316 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Baden-Baden16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Bodensee17 clubs	
Bezirksliga Freiburg16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Hochrhein17 clubs	
Bezirksliga Offenburg16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Schwarzwald16 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 Verbandliga 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	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Südwest
VI	
Verbandsliga Südwest16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südwest16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südwest16 clubs	
Verbandsliga Südwest16 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Südwest-Ost16 clubs
Landesliga Südwest-West16 clubs	
Landesliga Südwest-Ost16 clubs
Landesliga Südwest-West16 clubs	
Landesliga Südwest-Ost16 clubs
Landesliga Südwest-West16 clubs	
Landesliga Südwest-Ost16 clubs
Landesliga Südwest-West16 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Nahe16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Rheinhessen16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Westpfalz16 clubs
IX	
Bezirksklasse Nahe-Ost16 clubs 
Bezirksklasse Nahe-West16 clubs	
Bezirksklasse Rheinhessen-Nord16 clubs 
Bezirksklasse Rheinhessen-Süd16 clubs	
Bezirksklasse Vorderpfalz-Mitte16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Vorderpfalz-Nord16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Vorderpfalz-Süd16 clubs	
Bezirksklasse Westpfalz-Mitte16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Westpfalz-Nord16 clubs
Bezirksklasse Westpfalz-Süd16 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	
Thüringenliga16 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Thüringen-Nord16 clubs
Landesliga Thüringen-Ost16 clubs
Landesliga Thüringen-Süd16 clubs
VIII	
Regionalklasse Thüringen 116 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 216 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 316 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 416 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 514 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 614 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 716 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 814 clubs
Regionalklasse Thüringen 914 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 Nordost18 clubs
Westfalenliga 2 Südwest17 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Westfalen 1 Ost16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 2 Süd16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 3 West16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 4 Nord16 clubs
Landesliga Westfalen 5 Mitte16 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Westfalen 116 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 216 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 316 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 417 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 517 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 616 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 716 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 815 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 916 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 1016 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 1117 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 1216 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 1316 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 1415 clubs
Bezirksliga Westfalen 1516 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	
Division	
Division	
Division
	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	
↑ promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg
VI	
Verbandsliga Württemberg17 clubs	
Verbandsliga Württemberg17 clubs	
Verbandsliga Württemberg17 clubs	
Verbandsliga Württemberg17 clubs
VII	
Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 117 clubs	
Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 217 clubs	
Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 316 clubs	
Landesliga Baden-Württemberg 416 clubs
VIII	
Bezirksliga Enz/Murr16 clubs
Bezirksliga Hohenlohe17 clubs
Bezirksliga Rems/Murr15 clubs
Bezirksliga Unterland17 clubs	
Bezirksliga Donau/Iller16 clubs
Bezirksliga Kocher/Rems16 clubs
Bezirksliga Neckar/Fils16 clubs
Bezirksliga Stuttgart17 clubs	
Bezirksliga Alb16 clubs
Bezirksliga Böblingen/Calw16 clubs
Bezirksliga Nördlicher Schwarzwald15 clubs
Bezirksliga Schwarzwald16 clubs	
Bezirksliga Bodensee16 clubs
Bezirksliga Donau16 clubs
Bezirksliga Riß15 clubs
Bezirksliga Zollern15 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 ==
* Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB)
* Kicker.de
* Bundesliga archive
==Sources==
* The official DFB website with tables and results from all German leagues
* "Kicker Almanach" The Football Yearbook on German football from Bundesliga to Oberliga, since 1937, published by the Kicker Sports Magazine
Category:Football in Germany