Visor the trick to Paties' victory

SHERWOOD'S Bailey Paties fears he'll be known as the ‘boy with the orange visor and glasses' for the rest of his life.

But if it keeps helping him win Queensland selection, the 12-year-old might just stick with it for a little bit longer.

The young hockey star has been wearing the same visor since around the time he started playing hockey at the age of four.

The visor was in action again at the Queensland School Sport 12 Years and Under State Hockey Championships in Toowoomba last month.

Paties, who usually plays fullback, co-captained the Metropolitan West side playing at centre.

Despite coping an accidental stick to the head midway through the four-day tournament, the fleet-footed competitor would only miss one game as the region clinched its first hockey school championship at that age group in 18 years.

The side did it in style not losing a match and only conceding one goal for the entire event, which was against pre-tournament favourites Capricornia.

“It was good,” a delighted Bailey said.

“It was a complete surprise we won.”

After the tournament, the South West United up-and-comer was named in the Queensland School Sport 12 Years and Under Boys hockey team to compete at nationals held on the Gold Coast in August.

Paties has never competed at a national hockey tournament and said he was itching to get his chance to perform against hockey players from around the country.