Taylor Mickleboro to become first woman on-field official in OUA football history

Burlington, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football fans are undoubtedly excited to see the 2022-23 season kick off on Saturday, August 27, but as the 114th season hits the gridiron, it is more than just the student-athletes who are looking to make their mark.

As part of the officiating crew for the game between the Waterloo Warriors and York Lions, Taylor Mickleboro will become the first woman on-field official in the history of the OUA, doing so alongside Kevin, her father and the 2021 recipient of the Ken Green Officials Award of Merit, and Ryan, her brother.

Despite breaking this barrier, however, Mickleboro looks at this as just another game.

"It's not something I have really thought about, being the first female," said Mickleboro, "because to me it's just another football game."

Rather than be celebrated as the first woman to take on the role within the conference, something that she does recognize makes room for other female officials who are coming up, Mickleboro prefers to look ahead to a time when news like this is the norm and not the exception.



"I am more of the mindset that I am an official who just happens to be female rather than the other way around because again, just trying to normalize it and make it an everyday thing, that's kind of how I think about it."

While it may be just another football game for Mickleboro, it is an experience that she has been working toward for some time, ever since her familial ties helped introduce her to officiating.

"My dad has been an official for over 30 years, and my brother is an official as well, so that's really how I was introduced to it," explained Mickleboro. "And then in high school, in about grade 12, my dad asked if I wanted to try even just officiating on the sticks or anything like that, so I did, and that's how I got started."

The family connection is not lost on any of the Mickleboros, and the fact that Saturday's contest will see the trio each donning the black and white stripes together at York Lions Stadium, is very much on their radar.

"It's going to be a big deal for all three of us. My mom is going to come and watch us. We're very family-oriented and it's something that we've been looking forward to potentially doing one day, and the fact that we get to do it is really exciting."

Aligned with her overall mentality surrounding the impending kickoff and her historic role therein, Mickleboro is also looking beyond the role of gender in her mindset of supporting officials coming through the ranks.

"For any young official, you just have to be interested, work at it, and be willing to learn. It's something to aspire to do, so be willing to learn, grow, and be coachable. You won't be able to reach your goals if you're not any of those things, which is something to offer any official."

In the meantime, Mickleboro is looking forward to taking what she has learned over her own officiating journey and putting it to work in her on-field OUA debut on Saturday.

"It's going to be fun. I've been working toward this for a long time, so to be able to actually do it is pretty exciting."