Serie D, the fifth level of Italian Football, is composed of 166 teams divided into nine divisions.
The regular Serie D will start September 7, 2008 with each team playing 34 matches, two matches against every other team in the division. The nine division winners are automatically promoted to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione for the 2008-09 season, while the two last-placed teams are automatically relegated to Eccellenza.
After the regular season is complete, teams placed 13 through to 16 in each division play a double-leg series (13 vs 16, 14 vs 15) where the winners remain in Serie D the following season and the two losers are also relegated to Eccellenza for a total of 4 relegations in each division, 36 in total for the league.
The nine division winners enter a tournament to determine the over-all Serie D champion and is awared the Scudetto Dilettanti.
Teams placed second through fifth in each division enter a playoff tournament after the regular season as well. Eventually, a final game determines which team finishes first and which teams comes in second in this 36-team playoff, and these teams may be bumped up to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione if one or more current Seconda Divisione teams runs into financial difficulties or is penalized.
