Iowa youth soccer game was filled with joy; here's why

Their cheers are magnified by the reality that in many other aspects of their lives, there are significant challenges to overcome. Guest columnist

The first question seemed logical: "Who are you here to cheer for?"

My two adult daughters and I had settled into our camp chairs a little late as the age 12-and-under girls' soccer game had already begun. It was a beautiful, unseasonably warm late October Sunday, and we were the only spectators sitting on our team's side of the field. The opposing team's fans filled their sideline and spilled over a bit onto ours. “We’re here for the team in purple,” I said, assuming the other team’s mom was just being polite. Just then, our team scored a goal and the sideline burst into a raucous, protracted celebration led by some older girls. It was a joy