A sports league is a professional body that governs the competition of its teams.[clarification needed] They make the rules for competition and behavior and discipline its members as necessary. This is done through a structure that varies by league. Some are made up of a board of governors that have a Commissioner or President. While others are single entity organizations where the league owns the franchises and therefore does not have a board of governors.[clarification needed]
A list of professional sports leagues:
This list attempts to show, those sports leagues, for which all players and teams are paid to play. In other words, these players can be considered to play their chosen sport as their place of employment. Some leagues do not pay well enough to allow players to use as their primary or only source of income, but as they are paid to play, it is considered professional.
Auto racing
- A1 Grand Prix (Official Site)
- American Le Mans Series (Official Site)
- British Touring Car Championship (Official Site)
- DTM - German Touring Car Masters (Official Site)
- D1 Grand Prix (Official Site)
- Formula One, aka Grand Prix racing (Official Site)
- FIA GT (Official Site)
- Formula D (Official Site)
- Grand Am (Official Site)
- IndyCar Series (Indy Racing League) (Official Site)
- Le Mans Series (Official Site)
- NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) (Official Site)
- NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) (Official Site)
- SCCA World Challenge (Official Site)
- Super GT (Official Site)
- V8 Supercar (Australia) (Official Site)
- World Rally Championship (Official Site)
- World Touring Car Championship (Official Site)
Baseball
North America
Spring/Summer
- MLB - Major League Baseball
- MiLB - Minor League Baseball
- ApL - Appalachian League
- AzL - Arizona League
- AzFL - Arizona Fall League
- CalL - California League
- CarL - Carolina League
- DSL - Dominican Summer League
- EL - Eastern League
- FSL - Florida State League
- GCL - Gulf Coast League
- IL - International League
- LMB - Mexican League
- MwL - Midwest League
- NYPL - New York - Penn League
- NwL - Northwest League
- PCL - Pacific Coast League
- PBL - Pioneer League
- SAL - South Atlantic League
- SL - Southern League
- TL - Texas League
- VSL - Venezuelan Summer League
- MiLB - Minor League Baseball
-
- Independent Baseball (United States/Canada)
Winter
- Baseball Confederation of the Caribbean
- Independent
Asia
- China Baseball League (China)
- Chinese Professional Baseball League (Taiwan)
- Korean Baseball Organization
- Japan
Basketball
See also: List of basketball leagues
- 1. A SKL - known for sponsorship reasons as Liga UPC Telemach (Slovenia)
- A1 Liga (Croatia)
- ACB - Liga ACB (Spain, first level)
- ABA - American Basketball Association (Official Page)
- Basketball Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- BBL - Baltic Basketball League (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Sweden)
- BBL - Basketball BundesLiga (Germany)
- BBL - British Basketball League (United Kingdom)
- BLNO (Norway)
- BSN - National Superior Basketball (Puerto Rico)
- CBA - Chinese Basketball Association
- E.O.K. - Greece Basketball Association (Official page)
- Euroleague - Pan-European competition for elite clubs (Official Page)
- Eurocup - know as the ULEB Cup from 2002-2008. Is the second-tier transnational professional basketball competition in Europe.
- EuroChallenge - is the top Men's Basketball competition directly run by FIBA Europe. The competition was created in 2003 following the defection of several top European basketball teams from the former European Champions' Cup which heralded the formation of the Euroleague under the umbrella of ULEB.
- IBL - International Basketball League
- ISL - Iranian Basketball Super League (Iran)
- KBL - Korean Basketball League (South Korea) (Official Page)
- Korisliiga (Finland)
- LBL - Latvian Basketball League
- LEB - Liga Española de Baloncesto (Spain, second level)
- LEGA Basket A (Italy, first level)
- LegADue (Italy, second level)
- Ligat HaAl (Israel)
- LKL - Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga (Lithuania)
- LNB - Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (Argentina)
- LNB - Ligue Nationale de Basketball (France)
- LNBP - Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (Mexico)
- Naša Sinalko Liga (Serbia)
- NBA - National Basketball Association (Official Page)
- NBA D-League - NBA Development League (Official Page)
- NBA Summer Pro League
- NBB - Novo Basquete Brasil (Official Page)
- NBL - National Basketball League (Australasia), (Australia & New Zealand)
- NBL - National Basketball League (New Zealand), (New Zealand only)
- NLB League, also known as Adriatic League (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia)
- Opportunity League (Montenegro)
- PBA - Philippine Basketball Association (Philippines)
- PBL - Premier Basketball League (United States)
- PLK - Polska Liga Koszykówki, also called Dominet Bank Ekstraliga for sponsorship reasons (Poland, men) Official page
- PLKK - Polska Liga Koszykówki Kobiet, also called Torell Basket Liga for sponsorship reasons (Poland, women) Official page
- SBL - Super Basketball League (Taiwan)
- TBL - Turkish Basketball League
- TPBL - Texas Pro Basketball League
- USBL - United States Basketball League (Official Page)
- WBA - World Basketball Association
- WNBA - Women's National Basketball Association (Official Page)
Bowling
Boxing
- World Boxing Council
- World Boxing Association
- International Boxing Federation
- World Boxing Organization
- International Boxing Organization
Cricket
- Australia
- England
- India
- Indian Premier League
- Indian Cricket League
- NKP Salve Challenger Trophy
- Ranji Trophy
- Duleep Trophy
- Deodhar Trophy
- Irani Trophy
- Twenty20 Zonal Competition
- Vijay Hazare Trophy
- Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup
- New Zealand
- Kenya
- National Elite League Twenty20
- Zonal League
- N.P.C.A. 50 Over League
- N.P.C.A. 20 Over League
- Sahara Elite League
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
- Wales
- West Indies {composed of each country with its own leagues)} -
- Barbados
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Bermuda
- Leewards Islands
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Nevis
- Montserrat
- St. Kitts
- St. Maarten
- United States Virgin Islands
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Bahamas
- Windward Islands
- Dominica Grenada
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent & the Grenadines
- Cuba
- Carib Beer Cup
- KFC Cup
- Stanford 20/20
- TCL Under-19 West Indies Challenge
- TCL Under-19 West Indies Challenge Limited Overs Series
- Inter-Colonial Tournament
- WIWCF Women's Senior Tournament
- Barbados
- Sir Garfield Sobers Cricket Tournament
- Netherlands
- Nachenius Tjeenk Twenty20 Cup [1]
- Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond Cricket Tournament
- First Division
- Transitional Division
- Second Division
- Third Division
- Fourth Division
- Women Premier League
- Two-Day Competition
- Scotland
- Cricket Scotland 50 Over Competition
- Lloyds TSB Scotland League
- Bermuda
- 50-Overs League
- Open Cricket
- 20-20 Cricket
- Bowl-Off
- Japan
- J2C League A [2]
- J2C League B
- J1C
- J2C
- Women's Tournament
- Women's League
- Japan Korea 06
- Univ. Satellite
- Univ. (Men)
- Univ. (Women)
- Ireland
- Antalis Cup
- Senior Two Title
- Argentina
- Namibia
- Standard Bank Cup
- SAA Provincial Challenge
- Rwanda
- The National Suffo League
- Nepal
- National League [5]
- 2 Day National League
- National Twenty20 League
- U-19 National League
- Women Cricket League
- Zimbabwe
- Nigeria
- GTA 20/20 CRICKET TOURNEY [7]
- Iris Smart Technologies (CCC) League
- Super Four
- Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Tournament
- Estonia
- Hong Kong
- Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes
- Summer Eights [8]
- Saturday League
- Sunday League
- Social League
- Knock-out Tournament
- Hong Kong Cricket Association Round Robin
- Bahrain
- Bahrain Cricket League [9]
- Chile
- Metropolitan Cup
- Singapore
- Stan Nagiah Trophy
- America
- Major League Cricket
- Colorado Cricket League
- Central West Championship
- Twenty20 League
- FREEDOM T20 Cricket Tournament [10]
- Uganda
- Papua New Guinea
- Papua New Guinea National Championships [13]
- Elite Super Series Twenty 20
- Elite Super Series 50 Over Competition
- Fiji
- Diwarka Prasad Trophy
- Pacific Games
- Samoa
- Pacific Games
- Tonga
- Pacific Games
- New Caledonia
- Pacific Games
- United Arab Emirates
- Alam Steel 4 Nations
- Pro Arch Trophy 2008
- AJCC -Corporate
- Alubond -Premier B
Curling
Cycling
- American Bicycle Association Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
- National Bicycle League (BMX)
- USA Cycling (multi discipline)
International
Field hockey
Football: American and Canadian
See also the full list of leagues of American and Canadian football
Football: Association Football
This section lists a number of leagues regarded as being professional to some degree, although sources are not provided, in-keeping with the other sports leagues listed. A list of football leagues regarded as being fully professional (as per the WP:Athlete guidance) can be found at Wikipedia:WikiProject Football/Fully professional leagues, and this list is largely sourced.
Australia and 
New Zealand
- Hyundai A-League
- SAS Ligaen (top level)
- Viasat Sport Division (second level)
- Premier League
- The Football League, composed of:
- Persian Gulf Cup (Premier League)
- Azadegan League (1st Division)
- Iran Football's 2nd Division
- Iran Football's 3rd Division
- Ligat ha'Al (Premier League)
- Liga Leumit (National League)
- Tippeligaen (top level)
- Adeccoligaen (second level)
- Portuguese Liga
- Liga de Honra (second level)
- Singapore Professional Football League (S.League)
- Korea Professional Football League (K-League)
United States, 
Canada, 
Puerto Rico, 
Bermuda
- Major League Soccer (MLS) (US and Canada - premier league)
- Women's Professional Soccer (US and Canada - premier league)
- North American Soccer League
- United Soccer Leagues (USL)
- Major Indoor Soccer League
- PASL-Pro
- Canadian Soccer League
- Pacific Coast Soccer League
- National Premier Soccer League
See also the full List of football (soccer) competitions
Football: Australian rules football
- Australian Football League (Official Page)
- Victorian Football League
- South Australian National Football League (Official Page)
- West Australian Football League
- Victorian Women's Football Leauue
- See List of Australian rules football leagues and List of Australian rules football leagues outside Australia.
Golf
- See main article: Professional golf tours.
Men's
Top-level tours
- PGA TOUR (United States)
- European Tour
- Japan Golf Tour
- Asian Tour (Asia outside Japan)
- PGA Tour of Australasia (Australia and New Zealand)
- Sunshine Tour (southern Africa, mainly South Africa)
- Canadian Professional Golf Tour
Senior tours
- Champions Tour (United States)
- European Seniors Tour
Developmental tours
- Nationwide Tour (second-tier US tour, operated by the PGA TOUR)
- Challenge Tour (second-tier European tour)
- Japan Challenge Tour (second-tier Japanese tour)
- Alps Tour (third-tier tour operating in Austria, France, Italy, Morocco and Switzerland, with events also in the Czech Republic and Tunisia)
- EPD Tour (third-tier tour based in Germany)
- Gateway Tour (third-tier US tour)
- Minor League Golf Tour (low cost fourth-tier US tour)
- NGA Hooters Tour (third-tier US tour)
- PGA EuroPro Tour (third-tier tour based in the UK)
- US Pro Golf Tour (third-tier US tour)
- SAS Masters Tour (men's version is a fourth-tier tour based in Sweden)
Women's
Top-level tours
- LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association; United States)
- LPGA of Japan Tour
- Ladies European Tour
- LPGA of Korea Tour (South Korea)
- Ladies Asian Golf Tour (Asia outside of Japan and Korea)
- ALPG Tour (Australia)
Senior tours
- Legends Tour (United States)
Developmental tours
- FUTURES Tour (second-tier US tour, operated by the LPGA)
- Step Up Tour (second-tier Japanese tour, operated by the LPGA of Japan)
- SAS Masters Tour (women's version is a second-tier tour in Sweden, feeding to the Ladies European Tour)
Team Handball
- German Bundesliga (handball)
- Liga ASOBAL (Spain)
- Championnat de France de handball
- Iranian Handball Super League (Iran)
Ice hockey
- National Hockey League (United States and Canada)
- American Hockey League (United States and Canada)
- Central Hockey League (United States)
- Kontinental Hockey League (Russia, with teams also in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Latvia)
- Deutsche Eishockey Liga (Germany)
- ECHL (United States and Canada)
- Elitserien (Sweden)
- Asia League Ice Hockey (Japan, South Korea and China)
- Nationalliga A (Switzerland)
- SM-liiga (Finland)
- Southern Professional Hockey League (Southeastern United States)
- United Hockey League (United States)
- GET-ligaen (Norway)
- PLH (Poland)
See also the full list of ice hockey leagues
Inline hockey
- Major League Roller Hockey (United States)
- Professional Inline Hockey Association (United States)
Motorcycle racing
Lacrosse
Box / Indoor lacrosse
- NLL - National Lacrosse League (United States and Canada)
- MSL - Major Series Lacrosse (Canada)
- WLA - Western Lacrosse Association (Canada)
- ACL - Atlantic Coast Lacrosse (Canada)
- WCL - West Coast Lacrosse (Canada)
Field lacrosse
- MLL - Major League Lacrosse (United States)
Mixed Martial Arts
- United States: Ultimate Fighting Championship a.k.a. UFC
- World Extreme Cagefighting a.k.a. WEC (a division of UFC)
- World Combat League (founded by Chuck Norris)
Paintball
- NPPL- National Professional Paintball League(based in US)
- GPPL- Gauteng Professional Paintball League(based in South Africa)
See List of paintball leagues, for complete list of all major professional leagues.
Speedway
- Czech Republic: Ekstraliga
- Denmark: Danish Speedway League
- Germany: Bundesliga
- Poland:
- Speedway Ekstraliga
- Pierwsza Liga (1st League)
- Druga Liga (2nd League)
- Sweden:
- United Kingdom:
- Sky Sports Elite League
- Premier League
- Conference League
Radio-controlled model
- IFMAR World Championship
- EFRA European Championship (Europe)
- ROAR Nationals (North America)
Rugby league
- Australia
- France
- Europe
- Super League (Catalans Dragons in France and Celtic Crusaders in Wales)
- Championship (Toulouse Olympique in France)
- Championship 1
- Challenge Cup (features teams pro and semi pro from England, France, Russia, Scotland and Wales)
- National League Cup
- New Zealand
- United States
- Russia
Russian Championship
Rugby union
- Professional Rugby Players Association
- IRB Sevens World Series
- (Australia)
- (England)
- Guinness Premiership
- RFU Championship (second level; fully professional from 2009–10)
- Heineken Cup
- LV= Cup
- Amlin Challenge Cup
- (France)
- (Italy)
- Super 10 (semi-pro only, disbanding planned for 2010 with the addition of two Italian teams to the Magners League)
- (Ireland)
- (Japan)
- (New Zealand)
- Super 14
- Air New Zealand Cup (scrapped after the 2009 season due to reorganisation of domestic rugby; name of replacement competition not yet announced)
- Ranfurly Shield
- (Russia)
- (Scotland)
- (South Africa)
- (Wales)
Softball
Tennis
Video games
- Championship Gaming Series
- Cyberathlete Professional League
- Electronic Sports World Cup
- Major League Gaming
- World Cyber Games
Volleyball
- Lega Pallavolo Serie A (Italian League)
- Female Superior Volleyball League
- V.League
- Pro A (French League)
- Superliga Brasileira de Voleibol (Brazil)
- AVP (beach volleyball)3
See also
- List of sports attendance figures
- NCAA
- List of defunct sports leagues
- List of developmental and minor sports leagues
- Little League, amateur baseball and softball league
- List of cities by number of pro-sports franchises (North American)
- List of sports
External links
- North American Pro Sports Teams - Lists every imaginable league that has operated in Canada and / or the United States. Grouped by city.
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