Adaptive Sports
Haiti Focus Shifts to Therapeutic Recreation - July, 2010
Estimates indicate that there were 80,000 amputees in Haiti prior to the January 12th catastrophic earthquake, and thousands more became amputees following the earthquake.
As part of our disaster relief response, IIOS helped disabled earthquake victims to receive medical attention, mobility devices, clean water and security lighting.
Now our focus in Haiti has shifted to therapeutic recreation to help amputees enjoy a better life.
Amputee Soccer with its inclusion of both arm and leg amputees is the perfect adaptive sport for therapeutic recreation. In fact, Amputee Soccer is considered by many to be the world’s greatest one-legged game.
In July, Dr. Fred Sorrells and his team visited hospital and rehabilitation wards to encourage new amputees by telling them they could still be involved in the #1 sport in Haiti, Soccer, through the sport of Amputee Soccer. Pictured above, Pierre Bruny, captain of the Haitian National Football Team, encourages amputees at a rehabilitation center in Port-au-Prince.
Amputee Soccer Introduced to Haiti - June 2010
Amputee Soccer has been described as the greatest one-legged game in the world. It began as a rehabilitation and strengthening activity in the 1980's. However, those who played it found it was great as a real sport outside the rehab setting. Amputee Soccer soon spread from local fields and arenas to become a global sport with its own World Cup. The next World Cup of Amputee Soccer will be held in Argentina this October.
The international game is 6 v 6 + keeper, but there are enough variations in the game to allow local teams to play with as few as 3 v 3 with or without keeper.
Amputee Soccer is international and involves Russian and other Eastern European veterans of Afghanistan, West African combat survivors and even Middle Eastern players. Most recently this amazing sport was introduced in Haiti – to help amputee survivors of the fifth worst earthquake in human history.
Amputee soccer was introduced to Haiti by IIOS President Dr. Fred Sorrells who had seen a large number of amputees during his visits to hospital wards following the January 12 earthquake. Children, teens and adults were all affected.
Many had played soccer prior to the earthquake, and it became apparent that Amputee Soccer could relieve trauma, provide rehab activity, and help amputees re-integrate into society.
When Dr. Sorrells returned from his third post-earthquake trip to Haiti in April, he discovered that the Haiti National Soccer Team was in San Antonio, Texas - hosted by San Antonio Sports and housed at T Bar M Ranch.
Dr. Sorrells visited T Bar M Ranch and shared his vision of amputee soccer with team captain Pierre Richard Bruny, pictured at left with Dr. Sorrells.
Pierre Bruny agreed to help launch the amputee soccer program in Haiti. When Dr. Sorrells returned to Haiti in June, true to his word Pierre became the driving force behind efforts to introduce the greatest one-legged game in the world to Haiti.
Amputee Soccer is an excellent rehabilitation activity, so Pierre Bruny and his associates have started visiting rehab programs in Port-au-Prince to encourage them to participate in the sport. Pictured right, Pierre visits with two earthquake related amputees as they await their physical therapy session.
Dr. Sorrells worked with Pierre and his associates to teach the fundamentals of the game to interested amputees.
Amputees from Port-au-Prince gather for an amputee soccer training session. Click here for a slide show that will give you an idea of the exciting action found in an amputee soccer match. The soundtrack for the slideshow was written and performed by Scotty G.
Dr. Fred Sorrells is the USA Amputee Soccer Association representative for San Antonio and Central Texas. Please contact him if you live in this region and are interested in joining a team or need more information. Email: fred@iisport.org