Before league games begin

• A period prior to the beginning of the regular season which is devoted to training and preparation
• Not counting, in a way
• Add a bit of spice before the competitive games start
• Like pro baseball in February
• Grapefruit League time
• Spring-training period
• Continue drinking tea, heading off before serious play starts
• Spring training time

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. The period before the start of a sporting season, during which players undergo training and venues are prepared vb. (context transitive English) To season in advance.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Word definitions in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
adjective EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES ▪ preseason injuries EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS ▪ All the preseason stuff is over now. ▪ I know they had a good preseason , but the preseason games should not count more than the games late. ▪ In a preseason game against ...