This new career mode innovation has added a new layer to the franchise experience. One of the most challenging aspects of any franchise mode is to find a compelling way to get gamers to embrace player development.

In FIFA 16, player training is not only fun to do, it’s also a very necessary task if you want to maximize your club’s long-term potential.

Some may have blown the mini-games off in the past in a haste to get to the actual gameplay. That would be a bad idea in FIFA 16. Here’s a few tips and strategies.

Do Them

Why are the mini-games so important this year? In career mode, it’s the way you develop your players. In FIFA 16, you can take a hands-on approach to improving the skills and attributes of players on your club. You do this by completing the same mini-games that you do before matches begin.

Say for instance you have a club that has a dynamic 30-year-old striker who plays the majority of the minutes, but you also have a 19-year-old with good base skills who’s not quite ready for the big time.

While you get the last bits of glory out of the starter, you should be developing the young star in the making by taking him through the drills between matches. The better you do, the more you’ll be able to improve him and accelerate his development into a starter.

Mix Up the Training Group

Each week, you can choose five players to train. While the youth should be the primary focus, you don’t want to completely neglect your veterans. I’ve found that a three-and-two approach works well.

I train three young players (24 and under) and two who are 25 and up each week. It’s best to vary the veterans you train. They don’t normally need to be catered to as much as the young players. The up-and-comers generally have lower ratings, so it’ll take more attention to get them up to speed and ready to supplant the vets.

Develop to Deal

Not every player you train has to help your team on the pitch. You can develop some of them for the purpose of selling their services on the transfer market. If you have a glut of young strikers, you can focus training on the one you want to keep long term and one who will be used to lure in funds for your club.

The higher his rating, the more you’ll be able to get for him on the transfer marker.