Bailey Morrison is starting to know his way around the world - mainly because he knows his way around a futsal court.
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The 12 year old is set to go on a third Australian futsal tour later this year, after being named alongside two other players from the Hunter to visit Catalonia, in the north-east of Spain.
Morrison, who plays for Lambton Jaffas on the football field and at Howzat indoor sports facility in Cooks Hill for the five-a-side version of the roundball code, was part of winning Australian sides during his two previous international tours.
The first was in Hawaii, where he faced players more than a few years above his age. The second was in Malaysia, where the quality of competition was far superior.
So Morrison, from Fletcher, is well placed to offer advice to Cessnock's Noah Stevens and Medowie's Jack Jones about what to expect on this year's tour.
"We'll hang out and talk to each other and I'll calm them down and tell them what to do," he said. "It will be really good with those boys there.
"We've already got a really good chemistry, us three."
The Hunter trio will face a host of Catalonia representative sides during the 14-day tour after arriving in Barcelona in late October.
Touring sides traditionally bring their own coaches, but for this tour the side will link up with a Spanish coach. It will be a handy addition from the futsal-loving country.
Hockey reps dig deep at nationals
Newcastle hockey player Ryan Woolnough picked up a silver medal at the under-15 Australian boys outdoor hockey championships in Narellan over the weekend.
Woolnough's side did not lose a match in the pool-stage of the week-long tournament, but had a 1-1 draw with Western Australia.
It was the WA side who they then faced in the final but went down 2-1 in what was a tight contest.
Fellow Newcastle representatives Edward Hunt and Lukas Gremm were part of the NSW seconds team which finished 10th overall.
The under-15 girls championships were held concurrently at Narellan and Newcastle rep Grace Baxter was part of the NSW seconds side that finished fifth.
Meanwhile, NSW players Ky Willott and Eamon Smith will take on Western Australia in a semi-final of the under-18 mens outdoor hockey championships in Hobart on Tuesday.
The duo's side went unbeaten in the pool matches, recording fours wins and one draw against Victoria.
Willott knocked in an impressive six goals in five matches before the finals.
In the under-18 womens championships, also being held concurrently in Hobart, Newcastle's Teyjah Abell has helped NSW to the semi-finals, with her side to take on Queensland on Tuesday.
The men and women finals will be on Wednesday.