System for youth development?

Ok, I don't tend do ask "Game FAQ" type questions, but as I don't think I'll have much time to play 2012 compared to some, I'd like to get the best out of the game as possible......

So, without using editors / resource archivers or getting bogged down in discussions about PA stats, what is the ideal system for developing youth players?

In terms of:

1) What is the ideal amount of time to keep the player in your club's youth team? Between the ages of 15 and 17, for instance?

2) At what age should you be looking into giving the player the odd run out in the first team or reserves?

3) Following on from 2, is it actually more effective to be loaning the player out elsewhere for a season? If so, from what age?

4) Does loaning the player out at too early an age risk injury or the player's development being hampered by over exhaustion? It would / could in real life and I seem to remember it did in CM01/02?

5) Does the default "General Yth" training regime get the best out of youth players or should I be looking at creating my own custom training routine? If so, what should the routine consist of?

I am at a mid table team with literally zilch money for transfers or for improving the youth facilities, so setting up a feeder club doesn't appear to be an option.

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks.

I have my own little system that is somewhat based off of real life youth acadamies.

1. I have two years of progress for each player, and (more often than not) they get the whole two years regardless,

2. I'll split players up in to Year 1 and Year 2 and remind myself of this by giving each player a nickname with their year at the end. The year is decided by their age, i.e. 15-16 years olds are year 1 and 17-18 years are year 2.

3. Next comes my rating of players. It's not overly important to the scheme but it gives me a way to spot which players to keep an eye on.

4. I'll play the best ones in pre-season friendlies and try to endeavor that they get regular runs in the reserves (but they're not managed by me so it's the reserve coaches choice).

5. I'll then endeavor to get the best youth prospects to be tutored by members of my first team. I'll often even get an experienced player in to tutor the best prospects, if I can afford it. In my current game I signed Frank Sinclair on a non contract basis with the intention of him aiding in youth development.

6. I'm actually never afraid to play young prospects, but they'll only slot in when I really need them. I'm currently a little short at left back. My captain is injured and his replacement played 3 games at less than 5, so I dropped him. In came a youth prospect left back and he played a blinder, getting man of the match. Never tell them you expect anything special though. Always tell them you have faith or that there's no pressure. If you can have them play alongside experienced pros too, though I don't know how well that is simulated in the game.

7. Playing them in less important games against small sides that you should easily beat is often a good tactic. If you're in Leagues 1 or 2 then stick them in for some experience in the JPT. I suspect that it would be that the lower down the pyramid they play then the more likely a first team appearance will go well for them. If you play a youngster in a Premier League game then it might go a bit pear-shaped.

8. When it comes to contracts only an exceptional player will get a pro contract before he has finished his two years. These will be players I feel I must keep a hold of. If you see someone hast started to accumulate interest then snap them up, but I don't make a habit of it.

9. After two years players that have progressed well enough will get a contract, but they will rarely be first team players immediately. For the first year out of the youth team they'll be reserve players and probably be sent out on loan to gain experience. I just don't like to rush young players.

To be quite honest it's a bit of a mix and match system that I have. I have a guide in my head, but I do react to different situations in different ways. I'd been looking at the youngster I chucked in at left back for a while but he was my only real choice for that game. If the poor performing left back had played a little better (and I hadn't had an argument with him in private chat) then he would have stayed in the team. If anything it was as much to get a reaction from the grumpy first teamer. The younster playing a blinder will force me to keep him in for the next game. He's earnt it after all.

As for your questions, you can't loan out players on a youth contract so I don't tend to send them to other clubs until they have done their 2 years and gotten a contract. I find youth games and reserve games week in, week out should be enough for them until they're 18. If they've proven good enough in the youth and reserves you can give them a contract at 18 and looking in to loaning them out. There does seem to be some problems with getting players out on loan in FM12 though, so you may want to get some feeder clubs. I've never got any offers for my players, though I do ask clubs to pay wages.

When it comes to training I have a specialist youth coach (or more than one at higher levels) and I make my own schedules for three different areas of the pitch; defence, midfield and forwards. For goalkeepers I use the default schedule because it meets my needs. If there are any players that could fit in different training categories then I'll move then around between the schedules.

Well don't know how much use all that will be, but I just thought I'd put my thoughts down for you to peruse. Good luck with those youth prospects.

Oh, as for whether I've been succesful, well the answer is I don't know. I haven't taken to the last two editions of FM too much and not got too far. I got a long way in FM7 or 8 and I vaguely recall a few good players that got to my first team. I'm hoping to get further with my system this time.

Ok, I don't tend do ask "Game FAQ" type questions, but as I don't think I'll have much time to play 2012 compared to some, I'd like to get the best out of the game as possible......

So, without using editors / resource archivers or getting bogged down in discussions about PA stats, what is the ideal system for developing youth players?

In terms of:

1) What is the ideal amount of time to keep the player in your club's youth team? Between the ages of 15 and 17, for instance?

2) At what age should you be looking into giving the player the odd run out in the first team or reserves?

3) Following on from 2, is it actually more effective to be loaning the player out elsewhere for a season? If so, from what age?

4) Does loaning the player out at too early an age risk injury or the player's development being hampered by over exhaustion? It would / could in real life and I seem to remember it did in CM01/02?

5) Does the default "General Yth" training regime get the best out of youth players or should I be looking at creating my own custom training routine? If so, what should the routine consist of?

I am at a mid table team with literally zilch money for transfers or for improving the youth facilities, so setting up a feeder club doesn't appear to be an option.

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks.

1 & 2 - I keep young players in the youth side until they are 18/19 depending on development, if they have excelled at that level they either get pushed into the first team squad or sent out on loan, i tend to use 6 month loan periods for young guys, i dont want them spending an entire season away from me but i want them getting good game experience, i also usually rotate them in for subs places and starts against weak teams for the 6 months i have them. After then i decide if they are ready to push on for full first team action or do the same again the next year. At about 20/21 i usually make a decision once and for all, if they are not going to push for a 1st team slot i will try and sell with a future sell on clause.

3 - loaning can be very useful, but you have to make sure the loan is worthwhile, is the club going to offer 1st team football, what is their manager like working with young players, how well is the club doing ect. No point in sending a young player to a struggling club, they wont play well unless they are a superstar at that level and it wont really help their progress that much.

4 - i havent suffered from that, but then like i say i tend to only allow kids out on loan for 6 months so when they are my club for the other 6 months they are rarely overused.

5 - i have found the general set ups for youth players to be fine, i tend to focus more on getting a couple of very good youth coaches that can cover a few key areas and then focus training more specifically for the 1st team.

Success wise i have done quite well with youth players especially in 10 and 11 when i focused more on the area, but i will admit most of what i do i have learned from reading threads in the tactics and training forum, you will find a lot of very good advice and reading in there.

Many thanks for those detailed replies, chaps. I salute you both.

Those are brilliant replies. Might take that advice on board to

Get ready for a really good read on youth development.

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/262465-A-Guide-to-Developing-Youngsters

Get ready for a really good read on youth development.

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/262465-A-Guide-to-Developing-Youngsters

That should be seen as the gospel on developing youth, if you have any questions the answers should be in there.