The Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) had 28 members at this time.
The format in both divisions was that the teams played a double round-robin to decide their table positions.
The Swiss champions would qualify for the 1981–82 European Cup, the runners-up and third placed team would qualify for the 1981–82 UEFA Cup.
There was to be an expansion from 28 to 32 members of the ASF/SFV at the end of this season, with new 16 teams in each division.
Therefore, this season would only see one club from the NLA relegated to the second-tier.