Each year one of the 8 available league places is allocated to an EHF member country's national association.

In each pool, A, and B, all the teams play each other once, with points awarded as follows: Once the relative ranking of the teams in pools A and B is settled, the classification matches proceed as follows: If the score at the end of the regulation time of a classification match is a draw, then a shoot-out competition is played to establish a winner.

From 1981 until 1989, the tournament was held once a year and the finalists' countries were promoted to the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup.

Source[2] From 1990 until 1993 the tournament was held twice a year and only the winner's countries were promoted to the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup.

[5] Source[6] In 2008 the tournament went back to its old format with a final but instead of two promotion places, the clubs scored points for their national association in the EHF 3-year rating, which sets the number of clubs in a nation for the European Cup competitions.