sportliga

Sportliga is a term used in several languages, notably Swedish and Norwegian, to describe a formal league competition for a sport. A sportliga consists of a group of member clubs that compete against each other in scheduled matches over a season. The league defines the rules, format, calendar, and disciplinary framework, and maintains an official standings table that ranks teams by points.

Typical formats include a round-robin system, where each club plays others a set number of times, often once at home and once away. Points are awarded for wins and draws, producing a champion or title winner at the end of the season. Many sportligas also organize playoffs to determine the final champion or to decide qualification for other competitions.

In many countries, sportligas operate within a promotion and relegation system: the best teams move up to a higher division, while the weakest are relegated to a lower division. Others function as closed leagues with fixed membership and no relegation, a model more common in some North American sports.

Governance and economics: A sportliga is typically run by a league association or committee, responsible for scheduling, refereeing, disciplinary matters, and financial regulations. Revenue comes from media rights, sponsorship, and matchday income. Leagues must comply with rules set by national federations and, where applicable, continental or international bodies.

Relationship to other competitions: Domestic leagues run alongside national cup competitions, and top clubs may participate in continental or international tournaments based on league position or qualification criteria. The concept applies across multiple sports, including football, basketball, ice hockey, and handball.