The 33rd annual Japanese Regional Football League Competition took place from 21 November 2009 to 6 December 2009. It took place across the prefectures of Fukushima, Toyama, Tottori, KÃ Âchi and Nagano. It is the tournament which decided promotion to the Japan Football League for the 2010 season. The top two teams in this competition (Matsumoto Yamaga and Hitachi Tochigi Soccer Club) were given promotion to the Japan Football League. Third place Zweigen Kanazawa achieved promotion via a two-leg play off with F.C. Kariya.
Preliminary round - Four groups of four teams play each other once in a round-robin tournament. The top placed team in each group advances to the final round. Final Round - The four winners from the preliminary round play each other once in a round-robin tournament.
Three points are awarded for a win in standard time and zero for a lose. If at the end of standard time the result is a tie, a penalty shoot-out is held; the winning team is awarded 2 points and the losing team 1.
If the number of points are the same, the league position is ordered by goal difference, then the number of goals scored, and finally the result between the respective teams. If the 1st-place position cannot be decided by these factors, a play off will be contested between top two teams.
Regional Leagues whose representative reached the final round in 2008, are eligible for a second team to represent them.