You MAY be able to quantify TEAM development through wins and losses. (Though this isn't ALWAYS true.) But you quantify PLAYER development through multiple metrics, most of which are worked on and evaluated in training, where a different kind of competition takes place. American youth soccer has myriad shortcomings, not the least of which is a genuine shortage of "time on the ball." You don't get time on the ball in games.
My observation about exposure for exposure's sake is simply this: Exposure without development is worse than no exposure at all. In essence, all you're doing is demonstrating your shortcomings and lack of proper training. A coach at a higher level may look at an under-trained kid and say to himself: "Wow, what a RAW talent! Maybe I could get more out of that with a legitimate training regimen." More likely, he'll go with kids who already possess the requisite technical skills.
