Between 20 and 22 games (depending on group size) were played in 19 groups, with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Unusually few teams were relegated, as the league was expanded to 24 groups in 2001; several extra groups in Eastern Norway and one extra in the Southwest. All group winners had the chance to be promoted to the 2. divisjon through playoff, but as the playoff contained teams from the 2. divisjon as well, those teams usually prevailed. Only four teams—Nybergsund, Nest-Sotra, Stjørdals-Blink and Hammerfest— won promotion.