The playing time was divided into four season phases, with the points from all season phases being carried over to the next. Initially, the eight teams played in the first leg of the season against each opponent in a return match. In the second phase of the season, the four best and the other four teams from phase one played each other in a home and away match. In the third phase of the season, each team played again in a return match against the other teams of the NLA. The four best-placed teams from phase three finally played off the champions in the final round in the first and second leg, while the remaining four teams also played off the relegated team in the NLB in the first and second leg. Each team received two points for a win and one point for a tie. If you lost, you didn't get any points.