The Bundesliga was introduced with the 1966/67 season and initially operated with two regional sections, North and South.

Since 1977 the Bundesliga has operated with a single section first division, currently composed of eighteen clubs.

Starting with the 2011/12 season the 2.Bundesliga is run in a single section consisting of twenty teams.

The season has 34 game days (or weeks) and is played as a round-robin tournament without playoffs or a final.

The first and second-placed teams are entitled to play in the EHF Champions League the following season.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed teams additionally play in the EHF European League.