24,481 associations with a total of 7,169,327 members are organized in the 21 regional associations. A regional association is formed from the amalgamation of several regional associations . Most of the regional leagues are organized by one of the regional associations. The regional associations organize games independently in their association territory.
The areas of responsibility of 13 regional associations each almost correspond to the boundaries of the eponymous federal states. Rhineland-Palatinate, on the other hand, is divided into the two regional associations Rhineland (FVR) and Southwest (SWFV). Baden-Württemberg is divided into the three regional associations Baden (BFV), South Baden (SBFV) and Württemberg (WFV). North Rhine-Westphalia is divided into Lower Rhine (FVN), Middle Rhine (FVM) and Westphalia (FLVW). Other exceptions are the assignment of the clubs in the Pinneberg district to the Hamburg Football Association and some clubs from Bavaria to the Württemberg Football Association or the Hessian Football Association .