The Kreisliga ( en, District League), along with the ''Kreisoberliga'' ( en, District Premier League) and the ''Kreisklasse'' ( en, District Class), are the lowest set of divisions in the
German football league system
The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to the hierarchically interconnected league system for association football in Germany that in the 2016–17 season consisted of 2,235 leagues in up to 13 levels having 31,645 teams ...
, set at step 8 and below.
Structure
Whereas the top amateur divisions are organised by the 21 state football associations of the German Football Association, the bottom divisions fall under the jurisdiction of their subsidiary bodies, being more than 400 district football associations that organise their divisions mostly following the borders of the corresponding policial districts. Therefore, in the league pyramid, the Kreisliga ranks below the superior state association's divisions, typically being the
Verbandsliga
The Verbandsliga ( en, Football Association League) is usually a tier-six football league in the German football league system, covering the area of a '' Bundesland'' or a regional part of such Bundesland.Landesliga and depending on the state association's structure also the
Bezirksliga
The Bezirksliga ( en, County League) is commonly a medium set of amateur divisions set at steps 7, 8 or 9 in the German football league system.
Structure
Depending on the structural organisation within each of the 21 state football associations ...
.
The Kreisliga exists within all associations in varying numbers and form. There are usually multiple levels of Kreisliga, distinguished by the suffix A, B, C or D. Some district associations also run a ''Kreisklasse'' below then Kreisliga, the Kreisklasse then distinguished by the prefix 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Several associations also run a Kreisoberliga ( en, District Premier League) as their top flight above the Kreisliga or Kreisklasse.