The aim of the league was to provide a pathway for young players to play regular high-level football, and allow reserve players from senior NSL teams to remain match fit.
The league was founded in 1981, alongside the simultaneous expansion of the senior competition.
The Southern division included teams mostly from Victoria, but also sides from South Australia.
The Northern division contained teams from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland.
Teams were drawn from NSL clubs, state league clubs, regional representative sides as well as the programs of the various state-run sports institutes, such as the Australian Institute of Sport's Football Program.