What is the training phase that is designed to establish an initial base of conditioning to increase tolerance for more intense training?

The post-season phase occurs after competition ends and focuses on active recovery and addressing injuries, not building a new conditioning base.

The off-season is a general calendar term for time away from competition, but it is not a defined periodization phase with a specific conditioning objective.

The preparatory phase, a core concept in periodization, is intentionally structured at lower intensity and higher volume to develop an aerobic and muscular endurance base. This foundational conditioning increases the athlete's tolerance for the more demanding training loads that follow in subsequent phases. Without this base, athletes risk injury or overtraining when intensity escalates.

The competition phase is designed to maintain peak performance and manage fatigue during the competitive season, not to establish initial conditioning.