Japan's Top-tier Volleyball League SV.LEAGUE Accelerates Its Ambitious Plan to Become the World’s Best League

The SV.LEAGUE, Japan’s top-tier volleyball league, has announced a major decision to accelerate its roadmap toward becoming the world’s leading volleyball league. Following discussions by its Executive Board, the league will implement significant revisions starting from the 2026-27 season for both the MEN and WOMEN divisions, focusing on three key areas: 1) Professionalization of players, 2) Professionalization of clubs, and 3) Enhancing competitive performance.

1) Professionalization of Players
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, all clubs will be required to have more than half of their roster comprised of players under professional contracts. According to the latest data, approximately 60% of the 180 male players currently in the SV.LEAGUE MEN are already contracted as professionals, with numbers steadily increasing. The newly established requirement is expected to further accelerate the professionalization of players in both MEN and WOMEN divisions.

2) Professionalization of Clubs
From the 2026-27 season, all club operating entities will be required to establish themselves as independent corporations whose primary business is volleyball. Furthermore, the league has strengthened operational requirements by mandating that each club's representative on the SV.LEAGUE Executive Committee must hold representative authority and be employed by the clubserve onas a full-time basisexecutive. Additionally, disclosure of each club’s financial statements will become mandatory to ensure greater transparency and sound governance.

3) Enhancing Competitive Performance
The current “on-the-court” rule permits clubs to field two foreign players plus one additional player from an Asian country at the same time. The league has decided to move forward its previously scheduled rule revision by one year, allowing clubs to field up to three foreign players plus one Asian player starting from the 2026-27 season.


Since the launch of the Daido Life SV.LEAGUE in October 2024, the MEN’s division has experienced strong attendance, with the majority of matches selling out. The league has also attracted numerous world-class players, solidifying the foundation to realize its vision of becoming the world’s premier volleyball league. This momentum is now extending to the WOMEN’s division, where initiatives are underway to establish it as a pioneering example in Japanese women's sports.

Through extensive dialogue with clubs in both divisions, the SV.LEAGUE has been carefully considering concrete measures to accelerate and ensure the achievement of its goal. As a result, the league has determined that it is now ready to enter a new phase focused on the professionalization of clubs. Reflecting this progress, the Executive Board approved the new measures—covering player professionalization, club governance reforms, and the advancement of on-the-court rules—on January 21, 2025 for the MEN’s division, and on March 18, 2025 for the WOMEN’s division.

The league will proceed with incorporating these changes into its official regulations and guidelines, aiming to implement them starting from the 2026-27 season. SV.LEAGUE remains committed to continued dialogue with clubs and all relevant stakeholders as it advances towards its goal of becoming the world’s best volleyball league.