The league is operated by the Polish Football Association (PZPN).

The champions and runners-up will receive automatic promotion while the 3rd- and 4th-placed teams will compete in Ekstraklasa's qualification play-offs.

At the other end, the bottom six teams face automatic demotion to the II liga.

After the 23rd matchday the league will be on winter break between 3 December 2001 and 1 March 2002.

[1] The following teams competed in the I liga 2001–02: Source: 90minut.pl – Baraże o udział w I lidze (in Polish)