WOMEN IN SPORTS

Hey everyone! I’m Taylor MacIntyre, the Founder of the Women’s FootbALL Conference.

My passion for football began at a young age, having adopted my dad’s love for the game. I broke barriers as the first girl to complete a season at my high school, paving the way for other girls to compete. After playing for two years as a receiver and back-up quarterback, I decided to give back to the junior team as a Receivers’ Coach in grades 11 & 12.

Fast forward approximately 15 years and I just completed my second season as a Receivers’ Coach for the McMaster Marauders football team. In Spring 2021, I was hired at McMaster University as part of the ‘Women’s Football Coaching Apprenticeship Program.’ I’m also the Receivers’ Coach & Special Teams Coordinator for the Team Ontario U18 Women’s tackle team and also the Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator for the U19 Guelph Junior Gryphons Women’s tackle program.

This past May, I was honoured to spend four weeks as a guest coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as part of the CFL’s ‘Women in Football’ Program. After returning home from Winnipeg, I joined the Cambridge Lions Varsity Team as a Defensive Backs coach, getting some experience coaching on the defensive side of the ball. Previously, I also coached receivers for the McMaster Women’s Flag Football Team.

For me, it only took one coach to open the door for me and to reignite my passion for coaching. When Coach Corey Grant created the Women’s Coaching Apprenticeship Program at McMaster University, I knew the opportunity was meant for me. Now, two years later, I’m starting the Women’s FootbALL Conference to open the door for other women and gender minorities in football. After receiving dozens of messages from girls and women who want to get into football – but don’t know where to go or who to ask or where to start – it’s about time we give them a platform.

The 1st Annual Women’s FootbALL Conference will provide education, guidance, inspiration, and networking opportunities for women and other gender minorities in football. The event isn’t just for coaches either; it’s for future scouts, S&C coaches, officials, football ops, football admin, and league governance officials. The WFC will create and shape confident female leaders within the football industry.

My “why” is to show girls and women that they can dream of playing or coaching football at a high level in Canada and to believe that there are opportunities available for them to be successful.