Have you ever wondered as you passed the Ann Arbor Airport on Ellsworth Road about those soccer teams playing on the fields there? I always assumed they were some of the numerous local soccer teams practicing — and I always empathized with them and their fans and families as they braved the elements of the season, including rain, snow, etc.

Late this past summer, I had occasion to get up close to one of the teams at that location; I was now part of the fans and families, watching my grandson play in his first game of the season. I witnessed the players and families of the Michigan Tigers Futbol Club, a Washtenaw County soccer organization, sanctioned by the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association.

The boys’ and girls’ travel teams play year-round and the club provides training by professional coaches. They aim to increase skills and sportsmanship. Home games are at the Ann Arbor Airport as well as at the Wide World Sports Center and away games at other locations statewide.

Personally, I was surprised and delighted to discover that there was so much more to this team than the sport, players and fans. While I was observing, one of the moms, an unofficial "cheerleader" of the boys’ team became a catalyst among the families gathered as she yelled out calls of encouragement to the players, by name! Half of the team’s players were new this year and yet she already knew their names — and more than that, she had supplied everyone with cards containing the boys’ names, numbers, positions and parents’ names, so that everyone could yell out personal encouragement to each of them.

When the team took a break at the half, she called all the parents together to introduce themselves and identify their sons; as I heard the introductions, it became clear that the majority of families were from other countries: Italy, Egypt, Poland, Brazil, Portugal, etc. It made sense to me then, with soccer being such an international sport, that this team would have such an international makeup of players. In fact, many of the coaches are from Latin America.

The group went on to discuss plans for a team family picnic that weekend. How nice, I thought, for this diverse collection of folks from faraway countries to come together because of a common passion for the game of soccer and to gain so much more — a new family of friends; throughout the year, this family is watching many games together, cheering on their Tigers!

So now, with my newly realized perspective that there are many stories behind everyday “scenes” around town, I hope to discover others and explore them; if there’s anything you’ve “scene” around town and wondered about, let me know and I’ll try to check it out.

Pat Kabat is a longtime resident of Ann Arbor. Recently retired, she now enjoys more time with family and grandchildren. She also volunteers as a tutor with Washtenaw Literacy and as an usher at U-M Productions and the Michigan Theater. Pat hopes to use her curiosity of scenes around town to investigate and share with the community.