You can and should arrange scrimmage games for Thursdays, regardless of whether you are in the playoffs or not. Automatic scrimmage games will be scheduled for you on Saturdays once you're out on the playoffs.
The next season starts when playoffs end (there are 3 weeks of playoff games).
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."