'I'll be Kerr, you be Raso': Mum catches boys pretending to be Matildas

"I was forced to play boys' soccer until I was 14 - something special is happening right now," Sydney mum Amanda exclusively tells Kidspot.

As the Matildas dominate the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, Australia is experiencing a revolution.

For the first time ever, on an unprecedented scale, the country is enthralled by women's sport and the  team representing us.

The games have been attended by tens of thousands. The media is saturated with coverage. We know the names of the players and even details of their personal lives, in a way that's normally reserved for men's sport.

And our homes are witnessing scenes most parents couldn't experience in their own childhoods: our kids, both boys and girls, embracing female sporting heroes - and a lot of them.

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"I'll be Kerr, you be Raso"

Sydney mum Amanda Baddock, who coaches the under 7s soccer team her son Patrick is in, couldn't believe what she heard at training this week.

One boy said to another, as they were kicking the ball around: "I'll be Kerr, you be Raso."

Amanda told Kidspot, "It stopped me in my tracks. Look at how far women's sport has come when we have young boys role playing the women's soccer team.

"The idea of boys knowing the female players, their positions, discussing who should be where and doing what on the field - it's a revolution for women's sports."

The family have truly embraced the Matildas and the World Cup. Image: supplied

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"I was forced to play boys' soccer"

Amanda has taken her family to see two games so far in the World Cup, and seeing her sons embrace the Matildas makes her proud, especially as a former soccer player herself.

"I was forced to play boys' soccer, and also told to 'go play netball'," she recalls.

That's one of the reasons why the mum ensured her family has followed the Matildas for years.

"My sons know the starting line up, and not just Sam Kerr - they know the squad. They know what the team has done to get here."

As a teacher, Amanda says, "We're passionate about equality being part of our daily conversations. It's why the boys also know about the pay disparity between men's and women's teams."

In fact, they're not just aware of it, "They're astounded by it. The future generations will be demanding change."

Soccer fever. Image: supplied

"The playground is changing"

Of course, the rising profile of the Matildas and women's soccer has impacted girls, too. Amanda recalls being on playground duty this week and noticing a significant change.

"There are definitely lots more girls joining the games, feeling confident that they can be involved," she says.

"Something special is happening. It's a cool thing to watch about this moment in time."

Amanda predicts this will be obvious at Book Week at the end of the month.

"Sam Kerr has a range of books, and trust me, there will be a lot of little Sam Kerrs parading around.

"But what's more wonderful is that everyone will know who they are."

Originally published as 'I'll be Kerr, you be Raso': Mum catches boys pretending to be Matildas