Would someone mind explaining development cycles to the new guy? It seems there is more to prospect development than simply good coaching and lots of playing time (which is the standard advice for beginners), and it seems to me that it has to do with understanding development cycles. How many are there, how they work, etc.

"Development cycles" (with the exception of demotions, on occasion) don't influence development, they just report on the development that has happened.

In other words, your prospects are developing even when you don't see increases in the ratings - the various "events" don't "trigger" development.

Get your prospects plenty of playing time, hire good coaches for them, and keep your training budget high if you want the most development you can get. Players with high makeup are also rumored to develop faster than those with low makeup...I can't say that I've observed this.

I've never heard that training budget helped development. I thought it related to injury prevention. But thanks! Very helpful.

Training budget helps, but mostly with older players. Actually, it keeps them from decreasing as fast as they would with a lower budget...

Training budget is very important to prospects too. It helps in the offseason development of things like power, stamina and durability....the non-skill areas that do not change during the season.

Quote: Originally posted by gjello10 on 10/22/2009I've never heard that training budget helped development.  I thought it related to injury prevention.  But thanks!  Very helpful.

Wouldn't a high training budget also promote development simply by preventing injuries, thus generally creating more playing time?

Quote: Originally Posted By blanch13 on 10/22/2009"Development cycles" (with the exception of demotions, on occasion) don't influence development, they just report on the development that has happened.

In other words, your prospects are developing even when you don't see increases in the ratings - the various "events" don't "trigger" development.

Therefore, you cannot influence development cycles even by causing an "event." The cycles are not worth the long empty threads that are written about them.