The seven Bezirksoberligas were introduced in 1988 to create a highest single-division playing level for each of the seven Bezirke. Before that the Bezirksligas were located right below the Landesliga in the pyramid. They were created upon suggestion of the 1. FC Sonthofen.[1] However, it took this club till 1998 to gain promotion to the Bezirksoberliga Schwaben.
The winners of the seven Bezirksoberligas are automatically promoted to their respective Landesliga. The second-placed teams face a series of play-off matches to determine one or two more promotion spots.
Teams relegated from the Bezirksoberliga drop into the Bezirksliga of which there are usually two, except Oberbayern where there are three.
Only one club has won a Bezirksoberliga four times, the TSV Kottern from Schwaben.
The German term "Bezirksoberliga" is best translated as "County Premier League". The Bezirke are political and administrative units similar to a county in size.
With the league reform at the end of the 2011–12 season, which includes an expansion of the number of Landesligas from three to five, the Bezirksoberligas were disbanded. Instead, the Bezirksligas took the place of the Bezirksoberligas below the Landesligas once more.[2]
The clubs from the Bezirksoberligas joined the following leagues:[3]
Champions: Promotion round to the Bayernliga, winners to the Bayernliga, losers to the Landesliga.
Teams placed 2nd to 6th: Directly qualified to the Landesliga.
Teams placed 7th or worse: Between two and six additional Landesliga places, according to the size of the Bezirk, to be determined in a play-off round with the Bezirksliga champions. Non-qualified teams to remain at this tier.
The Bezirk of Upper Bavaria received six additional qualification spots to the Landesliga, Middle Franconia and Lower Franconia received four each, Swabia, Upper Franconia and Lower Bavaria received three, while the Upper Palatinate received only two.[3]
