preseason
Before games count
Preseason refers to the period before a sports season officially begins, when teams hold training camps and play exhibition games that don't count in standings: The team looked sharp in preseason but struggled once real games started.
As an adjective, it modifies related nouns: preseason training, preseason predictions, preseason favorite.
The term extends beyond sports to any preparatory period before a main season begins.
Developing abilities through practice
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- drillsRepetitive training routines
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- scrimmagePractice match with contact
warm-up · exercises · stretching · workouts · endurance · strength · agility · flexibility
Showing kindness, warmth
- scrimmagePractice match with contact
- tune-upRoutine vehicle maintenance
- invitationalEvent requiring prior selection
- showcaseCabinet for displaying items
tournament · fixtures · opponents · schedule · away · home · interleague · barnstorming
Preliminary version of text
- rookiesInexperienced beginners in profession
- prospectsExpected future outcomes
- recruitsNewly joined members
- lineupOrdered list of participants
rotation · squad · cuts · waivers · trades · signings · veterans · benchwarmers
State of eager enthusiasm
- buzzContinuous low drone
- hypeExaggerated promotional fanfare
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- optimismTendency to expect good
speculation · predictions · rankings · projections · odds · favorites · contenders · sleepers
Organized effort toward goal
- advertisingPaid promotional communication
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- teaserSomething that piques interest
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
publicity · commercials · sponsorship · merchandising · tickets · jerseys · gear · launch
training
Developing abilities through practice
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- drillsRepetitive training routines
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
scrimmage · warm-up · exercises · stretching · workouts · endurance · strength · agility · flexibility · rehabilitation
friendly
Showing kindness, warmth
- scrimmagePractice match with contact
- tune-upRoutine vehicle maintenance
- invitationalEvent requiring prior selection
showcase · tournament · fixtures · opponents · schedule · away · home · interleague · barnstorming
draft
Preliminary version of text
- rookiesInexperienced beginners in profession
- prospectsExpected future outcomes
- recruitsNewly joined members
lineup · rotation · squad · cuts · waivers · trades · signings · veterans · benchwarmers · reserves
excitement
State of eager enthusiasm
- buzzContinuous low drone
- hypeExaggerated promotional fanfare
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
optimism · speculation · predictions · rankings · projections · odds · favorites · contenders · sleepers · dark-horse
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- advertisingPaid promotional communication
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- teaserSomething that piques interest
branding · publicity · commercials · sponsorship · merchandising · tickets · jerseys · gear · launch · billboards
- Basketball EventsNBA Finals, playoffs, championship, finals, draft day
- sports calendarpostseason, offseason, playoffs, championship game, finals
- tournamentstournament, tournaments, bracket, brackets, tournament brackets
- footballfootball, touchdown, field goal, quarterback, end zone
- Pro Sportsteam, teams, league, players, roster
- football gamesMadden NFL, FIFA, Tecmo Bowl, touchdown, field goal
preseasonpostseason
Championship tournament period
regular season · playoffs · championship · finals · offseason
preseasonpostseason
Championship tournament period
playoffs · championship game · finals · elimination game · sudden death
- preseason gameUnofficial warm-up match