Season (sport)

In an organised sport league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season last approximately from April to September and in the National Hockey League, it is from October until June. A season can be divided up into three basic time periods: Regular season, playoff season, and offseason.

Offseason

In sports, the offseason is that time of year when there is no official competition. In North America, this means time outside of the regular season and playoffs. During this time, upper management continues to work while the athletes will take much vacation time off. Also, various events such as drafts and important offseason free agent signings occur. Generally, most athletes stay in shape during the offseason in preparation for the next season. In Britain this period is known as the close-season.

Related Topics:
Athlete - Vacation - Free agent

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Pre-season

Most of the major team sports have a period of exhibition games prior to the official start of the season at or near the end of the Offseason. The games themselves have no meaning for the upcoming season but serve as a way for management to trim rosters and prepare the players.

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