World Lacrosse is saddened to share news of the passing of Stephen Taylor at the end of January.
Taylor was an integral member of the global lacrosse community, with significant contributions to women’s lacrosse in officiating throughout a career that spanned more than 30 years.
Taylor was an official at five World Lacrosse Women’s Championships, a technical delegate who coached and mentored officials at two women’s championships and a chief official for three women’s championships.
Taylor helped raise the standard for international officiating throughout his career and served on the World Lacrosse Rules Committee for six years and was the chair of women’s officiating from 2015 to 2019. Taylor served as the development representative on the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Association’s International Committee for Lacrosse for five years. Taylor helped support many National Governing Body officiating programs, such as Germany and New Zealand, and he was awarded an honorary lifetime member award from both in 2002.
Taylor also devoted significant time and energy into advancing the sport in his home nation of England, where he led the Umpiring Committee for 10 years while officiating in many leagues and domestic competitions. He was also appointed by the European Lacrosse Federation as its Women’s Umpiring Chair from 2003 to 2007.
Taylor moved to Canada, where he served as and the director of officiating for the Ontario Women’s Field Lacrosse League for three years before leading the league as its commissioner from 2011 to 2015.
In 2024, Taylor received the International Officiating Award from World Lacrosse for his lifelong service to the sport and efforts to improve the quality of officiating.
The service for Stephen Taylor will be held this weekend in Ontario, with information available here.