Australian soccer league system
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The Australian soccer league system is the league structure for soccer clubs in Australia. The league system in Australia since 1977 has involved one top divisional league controlled by the national body and many leagues run within each state below. The National Soccer League stood from 1977–2004 as the top nationwide tier above the current state-based league systems, in 2005, the A-League was established as its successor. The introduction of the National Premier Leagues in 2013 introduced a direct second tier of soccer in Australia, underpinning the A-League.[1] The National Premier Leagues incorporated the existing state leagues as divisions with a nationwide end of season finals series. In 2013, the National Premier Leagues rebranded 5 of the 9 top state leagues, and the remainder – with the exception of the Northern Territory – joined in 2014.[1] There is no promotion and relegation to and from the top-tier A-League, and promotion and relegation at other levels varies between different state systems.
The National Youth League, which runs in conjunction with the A-League as a national youth developmental and reserve league, is not included in the table. The women's soccer league system in Australia is similar to that of the men's, with the W-League the top nationwide league and below that state-based leagues run by the FFA Member Federations. Women's soccer in Australia is growing in popularity as clubs at grassroots level are getting in more players at a young age.
A proposed national second tier league competition with the working title Australian Championship has been proposed.
| Level | Leagues | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A-League 10 clubs (1 from New Zealand) no relegation | |||||||||||
| 2 | National Premier Leagues 94 clubs (from 8 divisions) |
Football Federation Northern Territory 10 clubs (from 2 divisions) | ||||||||||
| NPL ACT 9 clubs no promotion no relegation |
NPL NSW 12 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 1 |
NPL Northern NSW 11 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 1 |
NPL Queensland 14 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 2 |
NPL South Australia 12 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 2 |
NPL Tasmania 10 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 1.5 |
NPL Victoria 14 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 2.5 |
NPL Western Australia 14 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 2.5 |
NorZone Premier League 6 clubs no promotion no relegation |
Southern Zone Premier League 4 clubs no promotion no relegation | |||
| 3 | Capital League 10 clubs no promotion ↓ relegate 1 |
NPL NSW 2 14 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
State League 1 11 clubs ↑ promote 1 no relegation |
Queensland Premier League 14 clubs ↑ promote 2 no relegation |
State League 1 12 clubs ↑ promote 2 ↓ relegate 2 |
Northern Championship 9 clubs ↑ promote 0.75 no relegation |
Southern Championship 9 clubs ↑ promote 0.75 no relegation |
NPL Victoria 2 West 10 clubs ↑ promote 1.25 ↓ relegate 1 |
NPL Victoria 2 East 10 clubs ↑ promote 1.25 ↓ relegate 1 |
State League 1 11 clubs ↑ promote 0.5 ↓ relegate 2.5 |
NorZone All Age League 10 clubs no promotion no relegation |
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| 4 | Capital League Division 1 10 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
NPL NSW 3 12 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
Regional 7 districts no promotion |
Regional 10 districts no promotion |
State League 2 12 clubs ↑ promote 2 |
Northern Championship One 6 clubs no promotion no relegation |
Southern Championship One 6 clubs no promotion no relegation |
State League 1 North-West 12 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 2 |
State League 1 South-East 12 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 2 |
State League 2 11 clubs ↑ promote 1.5 ↓ relegate 1 |
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| 5 | Capital League Division 2 10 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
State League 1 12 clubs ↑ promote 1 no relegation |
Regional 6 districts no promotion |
Southern League Two 6 clubs no promotion no relegation |
State League 2 North-West 12 clubs ↑ promote 2 ↓ relegate 2 |
State League 2 South-East 12 clubs ↑ promote 2 ↓ relegate 2 |
Regional 18 districts ↑ promote 2 |
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| 6 | Capital League Division 3 10 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
Regional 19 districts no promotion |
Southern League Three 8 clubs no promotion no relegation |
State League 3 North-West 12 clubs ↑ promote 2 ↓ relegate 2.25 |
State League 3 South-East 12 clubs ↑ promote 2 ↓ relegate 2.25 |
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| 7 | Capital League Division 4 10 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
State League 4 48 clubs (from 4 divisions) ↑ promote 4.5 ↓ relegate 8 |
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| 8 | Capital League Division 5 10 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
State League 5 48 clubs (from 4 divisions) ↑ promote 8 no relegation |
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| 9 | Capital League Division 6 10 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
Regional 8 districts no promotion |
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| 10 | Capital League Division 7 14 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
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| 11 | Capital League Division 8 12 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
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| 12 | Capital League Division 9 12 clubs ↑ promote 1 ↓ relegate 1 |
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| 13 | Capital League Division 10 12 clubs ↑ promote 1 |
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See also
- League system, for a list of similar systems in other countries
- Capital Football pyramid, for a list of their League systems.
- Football Federation Victoria pyramid, for a list of their League systems.
References
- ^ a b "National Premier Leagues". footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
General
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| National teams |
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| League competitions |
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| Cup competitions |
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| Others | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lists | |||||||||||||||||||
