Female Football Week, running from May 2-11, is a national initiative celebrating the women and girls driving the game — from players to referees and this year’s theme is set to celebrate the community champions and trailblazers forging their own path in football.
One of those trailblazers is Nikoletta Sotiropoulos, who started refereeing in 2014 for pocket money, but soon “fell in love” with the whistle.
“At the time, I was still playing football in State League 1. Eventually, I had to pick between playing and refereeing. I decided I wasn’t going to be a great player — but maybe I could be a great referee.”
A decade later, Nikoletta has proved herself right. In 2025, she debuted as an assistant referee in the National Premier Leagues Men’s (NPLM) competition — a remarkable milestone in a journey defined by growth, and perseverance.
“It’s changed from just being about the money to something I truly love,” she reflected.
“There are so many things I enjoy about refereeing — the community, weekly training, making friends. It’s become such a big part of my life.”
That sense of community has been crucial, especially through tough periods.
“A few years ago, I had a really hard game in State League 5 Men’s as a middle,” she recalled.
“There was a lot of verbal abuse, and I told my mum I wasn’t going to referee again. I was done. But my mentor and support system were incredible — if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t still be here.”
Now, she’s not only stayed — she’s thriving.
In preparation for the NPL season, Nikoletta trained rigorously to meet the physical demands of elite-level refereeing.
“We had a fitness test to pass, and we followed a program to a tee,” she explained.
“There were two to three sessions a week during pre-season. Some solo sessions even ended in tears — but happy ones — because they pushed me beyond my limits. Doing it with others made it so much more fun and manageable.”
Her commitment has paid off — not just in terms of physical fitness, but in personal growth.
“It’s so different to playing. You can’t react the way you do as a player. I’ve learned to be respectful, composed, but also authoritative — especially as a female referee.”
Female Football Week is about empowering women and girls to take ownership of their journey in football — and Nikoletta embodies that mission. As one of the few female referees working in the NPLM, she’s become a mentor to others climbing the ranks.
“There are some great young female referees coming through, and I love encouraging them,” she said.
“I used to see girls refereeing my games and thought it was so cool. One of my goals was to be like them — now I’m doing that for others.”
Her ambitions continue to grow as she hopes to officiate in the A-League Women within the next year or two and is targeting the A-League Men as a five-year goal.
“I’m on a good pathway, and I’ll keep putting in the work. Hopefully my hard work continues to show.”
To young girls considering taking up the whistle, her message is clear: “You’ll grow — mentally, emotionally, physically. I’ve become stronger in every way. It’s not always easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.”