The competition is opened to any teams of the Professional Football League of Ukraine (including First and Second leagues), for which it is initially was intended, as well as other youth football clubs and sports schools.

No clubs from any of league of the PFL (First or Second) are required to field their under-19 team in the competition.

The competition is intended to help prepare a youth squad if a club would gain promotion to the Ukrainian Premier League.

A playing season of the league consists of two parts, the first group stage which consists of several groups composed based on geographic principal where teams play double round robin.

The best top teams qualify for finals which usually are played also in group format on "neutral turf" to identify a champion.