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What are the categories of Spanish soccer?

June 15, 2020

What categories of Spanish Soccer are there in THE Valencian Community, Spain?

Football in Spain is lived in a different and intense way. Specifically, in the Valencian Community, we find close to 500 teams in the categories of Spanish soccer, it is an area with a great love of football and with great opportunities to play it. Below we explain how football is divided into this area and which are the different categories that make it up. 

The categories of Spanish soccer are divided according to the age of the participants. We will, therefore, explain the three most prominent groups: over 19, under 19 and under 16. 

LaLiga Spanish Pro Football academy soccer Spain
LaLiga & Spanish Pro Football Academy soccer in Spain

OVER 19: 

  • First Division:  This is the highest category of Spanish soccer at national level. The league has three Valencian teams : Valencia CF , Levante UD and Villarreal CF. LaLiga is one of the most followed leagues in the whole world.  
  • Second Division:  In the Valencian Community there is only one team that competes in La Liga Smart Bank ; Elche CF . This is the second-highest level of the national competition. 
  • Second B:  In Group III of this category, teams from the Valencian Community are mixed with some Catalan and Aragonese teams. It is the closest thing to professional football at national level. The three branches of the Valencian First Division teams compete in this category: Valencia Mestalla, Atlético Levante and Villarreal CF B . In addition, clubs such as CD Castellón, Hercules CF, CF La Nucía and Orihuela CF also have a more than deserved place in this group. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  • Third Division:   This is the professional lowest categories of Spanish soccer at national level and is organised by the RFEF . It is a great gateway to the training and reaching the elite during the first years of training. The category consists of 20 teams from Castellón, Valencia and Alicante. Historical clubs such as CD Alcoyano, Atlético Saguntino, CD Eldense or Novelda CF , among others, play here. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  • Preferential:  This category of Spanish soccer is made up of four groups of 18 teams. One group for the province of Castellón, two for Valencia and one for Alicante. This is the gold category of regional football and in which there is a high level of competitiveness. To achieve promotion to the third division the team must be among the three best teams in its group and then measured against the other three best teams in the other groups. This is a very competitive category with a high level. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  • First Regional:  In Primera Regional, one of the categories of Spanish soccer, we find very competitive teams with maximum equality among the eight groups that exist in search of promotion to Preferential. The groups are quite varied and are formed by 18 teams. These groups are organized according to geographical proximity. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  • Second Regional:  This category is the most modest in regional football. The competition is made up of up to 14 groups with 16 teams in each. A great variety organized in a territorial way and in which we can observe great equality between the teams that are in the high zone of the table. 

UNDER 19:

  1. Honor Division:  In this category, we find the strongest teams of these ages. The teams from the Valencian community compete in group 7, in which there are 16 teams. It is made up of the subsidiaries of the most important teams in the Valencian Community and other representatives from the area. This competition is at a higher level as it is a national competition. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  2. National League: This is the second most important category for children under 19. The level is very high and it is made up of 18 teams from the Valencian Community. The level is very high and the competitiveness is maximum in search of a place in the Honor Division. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  3. Preferential Youth Division:  This is equivalent to what Regional Preferential would be in the higher categories. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  4. First Youth Regional:   Equivalent to what would be the equivalent of First Regional in higher categories. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  5. Second Youth Regional:   It is equivalent to what would be the equivalent of the Second Regional in higher categories. 

UNDER 16: 

  • Autonomous Cadet:  This category is the highest for the under 16s and the most competitive teams are found here. It is equivalent to Honor Division.  ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  • Preferential Cadet:  It is equivalent to Regional Preference in higher categories. ( In our academy, SPF Academy , we have players playing in this category of Spanish football. )
  • First Regional Cadet:  Equals the equivalent of First Regional in higher categories. 
  • Second Regional Cadet:   Equals what the Second Regional would be in higher categories. 
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