FM 24 Mentoring Groups Guide

Mentoring is crucial for helping young players grow and improve. In FM24, we’ll show you how to set up mentoring groups and get the most out of them.

Understanding Mentoring in FM24

Mentoring in Football Manager 2024 helps young players learn from older, more experienced teammates. It’s like having an older brother or sister show you the ropes. Mentoring can improve a player’s mental skills, personality, and even how they play on the field.

How Older Players Help as Mentors

Experienced players can teach younger ones a lot. They can show them how to handle pressure, work hard, and be professional. Good mentors help young players both on and off the field. They share tips about getting ready for games, staying focused, and doing well throughout a long season.

Setting Up Mentoring Groups

To set up mentoring groups in FM24, follow these steps:

1. Go to the ‘Development’ tab in your game menu
2. Click on ‘Mentoring’ to see the mentoring screen
3. Make new mentoring groups by picking older players as mentors
4. Choose young players to pair with the mentors
5. Try to have 3-4 players in each group for the best results
6. Think about how well personalities match and if players play similar positions
7. Check on the groups often and make changes if needed

The key is to mix experienced players with young talents who have potential. Try to group players who play in similar positions when you can. This helps the younger players learn specific skills for their position. Also, think about how the mentoring groups can help create a positive team spirit.

Finding Good Mentors

The best mentors in FM24 have these qualities:

– High mental skills (Determination, Leadership, Professionalism)
– Good personality traits (like Model Citizen or Professional)
– Lots of experience playing for the first team
– Respected by other players
– Experts in their position
– Good at communicating
– Consistent in how they play and behave

When picking mentors, look for players with these traits to help your young talents the most. Choose players who have faced challenges in their careers, as they can teach valuable lessons about not giving up. Our guide on formation styles can help you understand how different player roles can affect mentoring, so you can match your mentoring plan with how you want your team to play.

Choosing Young Players for Mentoring

When picking young players for mentoring groups, look for:

• Players with high potential
• Good determination
• Room to improve their mental skills
• Personality traits that could get better with mentoring
• Players who are open to learning and feedback
• Playing styles that match well with their mentors
• Players who fit into the club’s long-term plans

Don’t put players with very different personalities together, as this might not work well. A ‘Model Professional mentor might have trouble helping a ‘Slack’ player improve. Instead, look for young players who want to learn and improve, even if they’re not perfect. Mentoring can be helpful for young players in their first few years as professionals.

Tips for Good Mentoring

To make your mentoring groups in FM24 work well:

1. Group players by position so they can learn specific skills
2. Check on progress often and change groups if needed
3. Ask your Assistant Manager for advice on making groups
4. Make sure young players get game time too, not just mentoring
5. Encourage mentors to set a good example in training and matches
6. Create a friendly environment where players can talk openly
7. Set clear goals for both mentors and young players
8. Use what you learn from mentoring to adjust individual training

Our FM Wonderkid blog has more tips on helping players improve, including advanced mentoring ideas and examples of successful mentoring in real football.

Checking If Mentoring Is Working

To see if your mentoring groups are helping, look for:

• Changes in young players’ personalities
• Improvements in mental skills
• Better performance in matches
• How well young players do over time
• Young players becoming leaders
• Better understanding of tactics and positions
• Improved training performance and work rate
• Better team spirit and friendships

Remember, it might take time to see big changes. Be patient when helping young players improve. Use the game’s reports and player development screens to track progress over several seasons. Look for small changes in player skills and behavior, as these can show that mentoring is working.

Common Problems and Solutions

Mentoring can be tricky sometimes. Here are some common issues and how to fix them:

To solve these problems:

• Regularly check and change mentoring groups
• Be patient with player development
• Carefully manage how much game time young players get
• Ask your Assistant Manager for advice on making groups
• Talk to players individually if there are personality problems
• Set realistic short-term and long-term goals
• Provide extra help through special coaching and training
• Create a club culture that values mentoring and player development

More Resources for Youth Development

Mentoring is just one part of helping young players grow. Don’t forget to:

• Invest in good training facilities and coaches
• Look for young talents with good personalities and potential
• Balance mentoring with appropriate playing time and loan opportunities
• Use the same playing style across all age groups
• Use youth competitions and friendly matches to gain experience
• Work with lower league clubs to help players progress
• Create clear paths from youth teams to the first team

Teaching Others, Learn Themselves

Getting good at mentoring can help your team grow. By carefully choosing mentors, creating balanced groups, and checking on progress, you can help young players become stars for your club. Good mentoring can turn promising youngsters into world-class players, which is great for your club’s future.

Remember, it takes time and patience to help young players improve. You might not see big changes right away, but the long-term benefits for your club can be huge. Keep trying new things, learning, and adjusting how you mentor to create a program that helps your team succeed for years to come.

Happy managing, and may your young players grow into stars under your guidance!