The season typically starts in August or September, with the first round finishing in December.
If a division champion declines to participate in the play-offs, its intended opponent is promoted instead and if the champion, especially a reserve team of a 2nd Bundesliga club, is ineligible, the next-placed, eligible club accedes to the promotion round.
If the play-off winner declines or is refused promotion, the loser qualifies automatically for the 2nd Bundesliga in the next season and if the play-off loser also declines or is denied, no team is promoted and the number of relegations from the 2nd Bundesliga is reduced.
Teams belonging to one of the regional football associations of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, or Bremen compete in the league.
Until 1986 the highest leagues in northern Germany were the Landesligas, one each for Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein.
When in 1986 the Oberliga Nord was established the best teams from each regional association were admitted to the new league.
Although the best team from each association still qualified for the national championship this was determined by the final standings of the Oberliga Nord.
Afterwards the champions of the division had to play against teams from the Regionalliga West and Nordost for promotion to the Bundesliga Nord.
Teams belonging to one of the regional football associations of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, or Thuringia compete in the league.
When the GDR was united with West Germany in the same year play in the Oberliga continued.
Until 1986 the highest leagues in southern Germany were the Oberligas, one each for Bavaria, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg.
[7] The champions of these divisions had to play against teams from the other Landesligas in South Germany for promotion to the Bundesliga.
Teams belonging to one of the regional football associations of Rhineland, Saarland, or Southwest compete in the league.
Until 1990 the highest leagues in south-western Germany were the Landesligas, one each for Rhineland, Saarland, and Southwest.
The best teams from the Landesligas in south-western Germany played in relegation playoffs against each other for promotion to the Bundesliga South.
From its inception in 1985 until 1990 the Regionalliga West was the highest league for women's football in western Germany.