Verbandsliga

The fifth division is in most German sports federations the name given to the other a branch in the middle area of the German league system, regional or sub-regional division. Host of the game class is regularly responsible for the relevant area and the national sports federation subordinate state association. Often, it is the highest league in the area of the state association. Exists in addition to the regional league in a sport and a region at the same time national league, the federation League is usually the higher of the two leagues.

Individual sports

Hockey

Association leagues in hockey, there were in the national ice sports federations North Rhine-Westphalia ( NRW League Association ) and Lower Saxony (Association League North for Lower Saxony and the affiliated associations of Hamburg, Bremen and Schleswig -Holstein). After the reform of the league in 2010, the two leagues were renamed Regional Association of West and North. The Association League North was re-established in 2012/13.

See also: hockey league system in Germany

Football

In the Football League system in Germany, the fifth division was since the 1950s in the area of the West German Regional Association and since the 1970s nationwide the first to the third stage, later being moved to the fourth stage of the league system the highest amateur league of the then 16 regional associations of the DFB. After reintroduction of the 1994 Regional Association League was formed to 2008 in most of the since reunification now 21 state associations, the 5th league. In Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony and Thuringia the name Association Football League was not used. There, each top flight of the national associations wore instead the name of league or national league.

Since the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, and associated structural reforms in numerous national associations the league structures and designations below the regional leagues are considerably less uniform than before. Thus, the former federation leagues were for example in the area of the North German regional association for the abolition of the Oberliga Nord in league system the status of a premier league. Same was in the regional associations Hamburg and Lower Saxony, the renaming of the local association leagues in league. In Schleswig -Holstein, the name is Association Football League still used there now but for the second- highest division of the country. Also in many other state associations the term has since been abolished and the leagues provided with regional names, such as the Lower Rhine Westphalia league or league.

See also: football league system in Germany

Handball

In Handball in Germany is in the regional associations, the Association league on the national league, but with the top division of the Association of the league. The next highest league is then the 3rd league formerly Regional. The fifth division is thus the fifth highest class.

Paintball

In Paintball in Germany is the fifth division on the national league. It was recorded in the 2013 season in the league system of the German Paintball League (DPL ) and is used primarily to make the transition in the higher leagues and the change of the associated game formats for new teams pleasant.