a second division license, the best-placed teams in the league overall ranking qualified for the play-off so that 3 teams in each league qualified. The playoff was played in three rounds. In the first round, the 6 qualifiers from the third division ware drawn in three matches played in two legs. The winners of the first round and the 16th-placed team from the second division entered the second round (2 matches played in two legs). The final round was also played in two legs. The winner qualified for the second division. In each round, the away goals rule was used to declare the winner in case of aggregate tie score. If each team had scored the same number of away goals, the teams played extra time of two 15-minutes periods. If there was still a tie, the away goals rule was applied once again. Finally, the matches went to penalties. As a part of changes in the Belgian league system that were implemented in 2016, when the third division was rebranded as Second Amateur Division, the 2015–16 season had 37 teams (one division has 19 and the other, 18) and the division contracted to 16 teams. The three-period rankings and promotion playoff between third and fourth tier teams were scrapped. The 7th to 17th (or 18th) placers in each group remained in the division, which is called Belgian Second Amateur Division and now lies at the fourth level of the Belgian football pyramid, while the last placers relegated to the new fifth level called Belgian Third Amateur Division. From the 2016–17 season onwards, the Belgian First Amateur Division is made up of nine teams relegated from the 2015–16 Belgian Second Division, the 2015–16 champion and runner-up of each Third Division group, and three winners of a qualifying playoff contested by 3rd to 6th ranked teams. These teams must meet technical and administrative criteria. Naming 1926-1952: Promotion 1952–2016: Third Division Past winners Past play-off winners The final games of the third division play-off are listed here: 1994: V.V. Overpelt Fabriek beat R. Cappellen F.C. 1995: K.V. Turnhout beat K. Tesamen Hogerop Diest (2-0) 1996: F.C. Denderleeuw beat R. Union Saint-Gilloise (4-1) 1997: K. Sint-Niklase S.K.E. beat K.F.C. Strombeek 1998: R.C.S. Visétois beat K.S.V. Ingelmunster (2-1) 1999: K.M.S.K. Deinze beat Eendracht Hekelgem (3-0) 2000: K. Heusden-Zolder beat K.V. Kortrijk (4-1) 2001: K.V. Kortrijk beat R.C.S. Visétois (2-1) 2002: K.F.C. Vigor Wuitens Hamme