kickoff

Noun

• a start given to contestants
  • I was there with my parents at the kickoff
    

• the time at which something is supposed to begin
  • they got an early start
    
  • she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
    

• (football) a kick from the center of the field to start a football game or to resume it after a score

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  send-off , start-off