Floodlighting in the Oberliga: requirements by association
There is no uniform value in the Oberliga. The Oberliga Baden-Württemberg requires at least 300 lux for men, and the NOFV generally 400 lux for its matches. Other associations give no lux value but require sufficient or suitable floodlighting and in some cases proof from a specialist company.
From Leon Weber, Key Account Manager Sport · As of:
Overview by association
The table shows what the respective regulations say. Where they give no lux value, none is given here either.
| League / level | Lighting class / requirement | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Oberliga Baden-Württemberg, men | OLBW | at least 300 lux, proof before the season |
| Oberliga Baden-Württemberg, women | OLBW | at least 150 lux for matches under floodlights |
| NOFV Oberliga Nord and Süd | NOFV | generally 400 lux, proof no more than four years old |
| Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar | FRV Südwest | sufficient floodlighting, no lux value |
| Hessenliga | Hessischer Fußball-Verband | suitable floodlighting, certificate from a specialist company, no lux value |
| Oberliga Niedersachsen | Niedersächsischer Fußballverband | sufficient floodlight system, stated in DFBnet, no lux value |
| Bayernliga | Bayerischer Fußball-Verband | floodlit matches possible, no lux value |
| Oberliga Niederrhein, Oberliga Westfalen | FVN, FLVW | league matches under floodlights possible, no lux value |
lx = average horizontal illuminance (except Ecam), U = uniformity (Emin/Em), GR = Blendungsbewertung. Your association's regulations take precedence.
What do the values mean?
Lux tells you how much light reaches the pitch. Uniformity shows how evenly it is distributed, and the glare rating how strongly the floodlights cause glare.
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Illuminance (lx): How much light falls on a surface. 1 lx equals 1 lumen per square metre. For sports facilities, the average horizontal illuminance on the playing area is usually given.
Uniformity (U): Lowest divided by average illuminance. The closer the value is to 1, the more even the light.
Glare rating (GR): Assesses how strongly floodlights cause glare at outdoor facilities, on a scale from 10 (no glare) to 90 (unbearable glare).
Floodlighting Oberliga Baden-Württemberg
For men, floodlight systems must show at least 300 lux. The club provides proof before every association season when registering the ground. For women, matches under floodlights are permitted from 150 lux, with proof to be provided on request.
If the system fails, a match may be abandoned after 30 minutes at the earliest.
Floodlighting NOFV Oberliga Nord and Süd
The NOFV's rules of play say that floodlight systems must generally provide an illuminance of 400 lux. Proof is provided when registering the ground and must not be more than four years old.
The Oberliga implementing regulations give no value of their own. A club promoted to the Regionalliga Nordost meets the same 400 lux there.
Floodlighting Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar
Matches under sufficient floodlighting are permitted; the light level must ensure that the match can be played properly. The regulations give no lux value. If the registered venue has no floodlighting, the match is played on the alternative ground.
Floodlighting Hessenliga
Each club registers a venue and an alternative ground with suitable floodlighting. According to the rules of play, a system is only approved after authorisation by the district football officer (Kreisfußballwart) and with a certificate from a specialist company confirming even and sufficient illumination. The rules of play give no lux value.
Floodlighting Oberliga Niedersachsen
Matches can be scheduled under floodlights if a sufficient system is available and stated for the venue in DFBnet. This is governed by the rules of play of the Niedersächsischer Fußballverband for its competitions, and no lux value is given there. A club promoted to the Regionalliga Nord needs at least 200 lm/m².
Floodlighting Bayernliga
The rules of play of the Bayerischer Fußball-Verband only state that association matches can also be played as floodlit matches. No lux value is given there. For promotion to the Regionalliga Bayern, the 400 lux of the Regionalligaordnung count.
Floodlighting Oberliga Niederrhein and Westfalen
Both associations refer to the WDFV rules of play: league matches can also be scheduled under floodlights. The implementing regulations give no lux value. The Verband Niederrhein leaves further arrangements to the division meetings.
What the guides say about the Oberliga
Two publications classify the Oberliga differently. The guide from the football associations of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia (2019) says for Class II with 200 lx: from Oberliga, and refers to special provisions of individual state associations. The technical publication licht.wissen 08 (2010) gives 500 lx in Class I for Verbandsliga and Oberliga matches.
What counts for your facility is the regulations of your association. They can be above or below these figures, as the 300 and 400 lux above show.
For full-size pitches with few masts, the STL1443 is usually the right choice.
Frequently asked questions
How many lux does the Oberliga need?
Each association decides this itself. The Oberliga Baden-Württemberg requires 300 lux for men, the NOFV generally 400 lux. Other regulations, for example in Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland and Hesse, require sufficient or suitable floodlighting without a lux value.
Does DIN EN 12193 apply in the Oberliga?
That depends on the association. The Oberliga regulations named here set their own values or general requirements and do not refer to a lighting class. The standard remains the usual basis for lighting design.
How is floodlighting proved in the Oberliga?
In Baden-Württemberg before every season when registering the ground, at the NOFV with proof no more than four years old, in Hesse with a certificate from a specialist company.
Sources
- OLBW, Durchführungsbestimmungen Herren 2026/27, § 6
- OLBW, Durchführungsbestimmungen Frauen, § 6
- NOFV, Spielordnung, § 24 (version June 2026)
- FRV Südwest, Durchführungsbestimmungen Oberliga 2025/26, as of 7 July 2025
- Hessischer Fußball-Verband, Spielordnung, as of 6 July 2026, § 35
- Niedersächsischer Fußballverband, Spielordnung, as of 1 July 2026, § 20(6)
- Bayerischer Fußball-Verband, Spielordnung, as of 6 July 2026, § 13 no. 6
- Fußballverband Niederrhein, Durchführungsbestimmungen 2026/27, as of 20 August 2026, no. 21
- Hessischer Fußball-Verband, Durchführungsbestimmungen Hessenliga 2026/27
- FLVW, Allgemeinverbindliche Durchführungsbestimmungen 2025/26, as of 15 July 2025
- Football associations of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia: Beleuchtung von Fußball-Spielfeldern (2019), pp. 12 and 15
- licht.de: licht.wissen 08 Sport und Freizeit (2010), p. 15
Enquire about floodlighting for the Oberliga
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