Team Zaryen is a Haitian Amputee soccer team, located in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Zaryen is the Creole word for Tarantula. When asked why the tarantula was chosen to represent the soccer team the players give two answers. First because when a tarantula attacks, it pursues its enemy slowly and is deadly with just one bite. A tarantula is a spider known to carry on despite the loss of a leg and with the ability to regrow a lost limb. Another reason for the team mascot is because the tarantula has so many legs, much like the appearance of the soccer players with their loftstrand (forearm) crutches.
Amputee soccer is an adapted sport played with 7 players on each team (6 field players and 1 goal keeper) on a smaller field. Field players have lower extremity amputations, and goalies are upper extremity amputees. Field players use loftstrand (forearm) crutches, and play without their prosthesis.
The male and female teams were organized by amputees in August 2010 at Hospital Bernard Mevs. A majority of the players suffered limb loss during the 2010 earthquake. To date Team Zaryen is composed of male and female amputees who are looking to soccer as a way to show the world that disability does not crush the human spirit. The goal of the soccer team was to allow any Haitian Amputee the opportunity to play athletics. The players hoped to challenge the traditionally negative stigma of disability in Haiti, and show the country that it can emerge triumphant from the remnants of the earthquake.
What makes this teams unique, besides all players having an amputated extremity, is the courage and strength present to challenge a long standing negative view on disability in Haiti. During an interview, athlete Wilfrid Macena, who is a prosthetic technician at Project Medishare said, “I talk to the amputee patients and let them know that one day, they can be like me. I tell them that I can walk, I can drive, and I have learned to run….there are so many things I can do with my new leg and that they will be able to do these things one day. I let them know they can have a new life. That if you are an amputee it doesn’t mean your life is over.”
Since its inception the team has begun regular training, continuing to grow in skill and numbers. The Team is currently sponsored by Project Medishare in affiliation with the University of Miami, Challenged Athletes Foundation, and the Knights of Columbus. Despite sponsorship, they rely heavily on donations for daily meals, transportation fees, and equipment costs.
Team Zaryen made their world debut on January 2011, when the men's team played their first game against the Haiti National Amputee Soccer Team, whose last match was the 2010 Amputee World Cup in Argentina, where they were one of 17 countries who participated. The two teams met twice, the first was played at L'Athletique Du Haiti (a soccer complex close to the airport) in front of national and international press, and the second in front of almost 10,000 of their fellow countrymen at the National Stadium in Port-au-Prince. However, their opponents proved to be a very tough matchup, as the Haiti National Amputee Soccer Team won both games with 2-0 and 1-0 scores, respectively. The team continues to look for international competition. Many of the players on Team Zayren aspire to participate in the World Cup, as well as the opportunity to make the National Team and will participate in future trial camps to try and achieve their goal. The Women aspire to have the opportunity to play at the National Stadium.
There is a World Cup for Amputee Futbol for Men. Currently several countries participate in the International Event, including Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Haiti, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Turkey, USA, and Uzbekistan. Currently there is no international stage for female amputee soccer players to compete. It is the hope that a platform will soon emerge to allow females the same opportunity as their male counterparts.
FIFA Rules shall apply with the following exceptions:
Eligible for Competition:
Amputee Classes A2/A4 (Outfield): A6/A8 (Goalkeeper).
No team may field more than 2 Les Autres players at any one time. All Les Autres players must be identified to Match Officials before the start of play.
Special Medical Conditions: The wearing of prosthetic device is not allowed during match play.
Match Format:
3.1 Matches shall be played between teams of not more than 7 players – one of whom shall be the goalkeeper. 3.2 All teams entering International Tournaments shall have a reserve goalkeeper. 3.3 A match may not start if either team has less than 5 players and a substitute goalkeeper. 3.4 If during the game a goalkeeper is sent off by the Referee he shall be accompanied by a nominated outfield player and both replaced by the reserve goalkeeper. 3.5 Each team may name up to 7 substitutes (one of which must be a goalkeeper). 3.6 A maximum of 2 substitutes may be used at any one time. 3.7 All the named substitutes may be used during a match but only with the permission of the Senior Referee and during a stoppage in match play. 3.8 All substituted players may return to the game in order to replace any player on the field of play.
Time: Match duration shall be 2 x 25 minutes with a break not exceeding 10 minutes, after the first period. Play may be suspended for "Time - Outs" (not exceeding 1 minute). Each team shall be allowed 1 time – out per half.
Extra Time: Where normal extra-time or golden-goal extra time is played it shall consist of two periods of 10 minutes maximum. At half time both teams will change ends and play will re-commence without delay. Each team shall be allowed 1 time-out per half during extra-time.
General Game Rules: 6.1 The "Throw-in" shall be replaced by an indirect free kick taken at the point where the ball crosses the touch line. 6.2 An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team inside the opponents goal area shall be taken from a point on the goal area line nearest to where the offence occurred. 6.3 The offside rule shall not apply. 6.4 The goalkeeper is not allowed to leave the goal area during match play – in the event of this happening and the encroachment being deemed by the Referee to be INTENTIONAL a penalty shall be awarded to the opposing team and the goalkeeper dismissed from the field of play, (red card). 6.4 The goalkeeper shall be allowed to wear track suit bottoms during a match.
The Tackle (Challenge):
7.1 In the interests of safety the "slide tackle" shall not be permitted – a direct free kick shall be awarded against an offending player and that player shall be cautioned by the Referee. 7.2 Goalkeepers shall be allowed to dive to the ground with their playing arm spread but not feet first. 7.3 Should an outfield player slip/fall to the ground and INTENTIONALLY play the ball with any part of his body or crutches an indirect free kick shall be awarded against that player. 7.4 The goalkeeper shall not be tackled/challenged whilst he is in possession of the ball – this includes having his hand on the ball when the ball is on the ground. (Indirect free kick against the offending player).
Equipment (Crutches):
8.1 These must not, either by construction or design, present a danger to any player. Before a player enters the field of play all wing nuts, bolts, fittings and metal wrist supports must be covered and taped. Players’ crutches shall be maintained at all times – rubber tips must be replaced when worn. 8.2 In all competitions crutches shall be made identifiable by means of colored tape – this tape shall be the same colour as the team socks and shall be placed 40 cm from the base of the crutch. Color changes must be allowed for (where colour clash occurs between opposing teams) – lightweight plastic tubing safely secured may be considered. 8.3 During match play crutches shall not be used to play/control/direct the ball. Any INTENTIONAL contact between crutch/ball shall be dealt with via the "handball" rule.
Non-Playing Limb: 9.1 The non-playing limb (leg stumps of outfield players: arm stumps of goalkeepers) shall not be used to play/control/direct the ball. Any INTENTIONAL contact between non-playing limb/ball shall be dealt with via "handball" rule. 9.2 Only if an obvious goal scoring opportunity is denied by the INTENTIONAL contact between non-playing limb/ball inside the goal area will the offending goalkeeper or outfield player be sent off. 9.3 Outfield players, who are below knee amputees, shall wear a team sock on the stump area. It is recommended that all leg amputees wear stump protectors. 9.4 Goalkeepers, who are below elbow amputees, shall wear tape around the lower arm up to the elbow – this tape shall be the same colour as his teams shirts and different from his own shirt.
Dimensions:
10.1 Pitch Dimensions: Maximum Length 70 metres Minimum Length 55 metres Maximum Width 60 metres Minimum Width 30 metres The length shall always exceed the width. 10.2 Goal Dimensions: 2.2 metres high x 5 metres wide. The goals shall be of a suitable type and style agreed by W.A.F.F. and for safety reasons shall at all times be anchored to the ground. 10.3 Goal Area: 10 metres x 6 metres. (See Diagram). 10.4 Penalty Spot: 7 metres from centre of goal (1 metre outside the infield line of the goal area). 10.5 Centre Circle: 6 metres radius from centre spot. 10.6 Corner arc: 1 metre arc from corner spot. 10.7 Penalty Kick Zone: 6 metres infield from penalty spot indicated by markings on both touch lines and infield. All players except the penalty taker and the defending goalkeeper shall be infield of these markings when a penalty is being taken. 10.8 Line Markings: Shall not exceed 12 cm in width. 10.9 Free Kicks/Corners: Defending players shall retire 6 metres from the ball.
Match Officials:
11.1 Two (2) Referees shall be appointed for each match and they will operate along opposite touch lines. 11.2 The nominated Senior Referee will always operate along the touch line which control player substitution. 11.3 For International tournaments a Reserve Official will be appointed to assist the Senior Referee with time-outs and substitutions.