(TORONTO, ONTARIO) The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Taylor of Manchester, England, who now resides in Ontario, Canada, as the Chair of Women’s Officiating. Stephen begins this position immediately and will focus initially on preparing and overseeing officials at the 2015 U19 Women’s World Championship, to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 23 July – 1 August.
“We are delighted to have a leader of Stephen’s experience and talent assume this critical role.”
—Shelley Maher, FIL Director of Women’s Lacrosse
Stephen has a long and impressive history of lacrosse involvement. His on-field experience at the international level began at the inaugural 1995 IFWLA U19 World Championship in Haverford, Pa., USA. In 1996, he gained international accreditation in Cardiff, Wales during the Home International Championships. He umpired at the 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013 World Cups including the 2009 Gold Medal Game in Prague, Czech Republic, and has umpired more than 100 international matches at the Junior, U21 and Senior levels. Off field, Stephen has been a Technical Delegate at two U19 World Championships (2003 and 2011) and has been the Head Technical Delegate at four European Championships (1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004) as well as the Newcomers European Championship in 2005 and the Prague Cup in 2006. He held the European Lacrosse Federation Women’s Umpiring Chair from 2003 to 2007 and was the Chair of Rules and Umpiring for England from 1997 to 2007. He has been on the FIL Women’s Rules Committee since 2013 and represented officials on the International Committee for Lacrosse Development from 2003 to 2008.
“We are delighted to have a leader of Stephen’s experience and talent assume this critical role,” said Shelley Maher, FIL’s Director of Women’s Lacrosse. “His passion for the sport and his dedication to quality officiating will be a real contribution to women’s lacrosse.”
Stephen has travelled extensively in support of lacrosse, delivering umpiring and clinician clinics from Apprentice to International levels in more than ten countries including Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, United States and Wales. Stephen has an excellent understanding of FIL member officiating programs. This will be invaluable as he and his committee explore ways to assist members to grow their officiating base, as well as collaborate with the Men’s Officiating Chair, Don Blacklock, on accreditation programs.
“I am excited about being part of a team that drives women’s field officiating forwards to meet the needs of a game that is growing at breakneck speed …”
—Stephen Taylor, FIL Chair of Women’s Officiating
As an international assessor, Stephen has evaluated more than 50 candidates since 2000, and serves as an Assessor for the Canadian Lacrosse Association, US Lacrosse and England Lacrosse. Recently he delivered a weekend-long clinic with other international officials for US Lacrosse entitled “Moving from National to International.”
Stephen has served as the Ontario Women’s Field Lacrosse Commissioner (OWFL) since 2011, having previously been their Director for Officiating and later on as their Director of Development. He has umpired at all levels within the OWFL, as well as the Ontario University Association, and has coached within the league. He will step down from his OWFL position later in the year to fully focus on his new role.
“For the first time in quite some time, I was totally speechless upon receiving the phone call from Shelley Maher, FIL Women’s Director, to offer me this position,” Stephen said. “I am fortunate to have been mentored by many amazing individuals over the past 25 years and I have appreciated the opportunity to support the development of other officials, from those just starting their careers to those becoming Internationals. I am excited about being part of a team that drives women’s field officiating forwards to meet the needs of a game that is growing at breakneck speed, and I am looking forward to working with fellow officials to help create a modern, reflective program that truly supports the individual and the team.”
On behalf of the FIL Board and Women’s Sector chairs, please congratulate and welcome Stephen to the role of Chair of Women’s Officiating.
For further information, contact Stephen at stephen.taylor@worldlacrosse.sport
