Parkes soccer talent Ruby Smith representing NSW in National Youth Championships

This week she is thrilled to be in Coffs Harbour playing in the Girls National Youth Championships as part of the Under 14 NSW Country squad.

It is her first time playing with the squad.

"I'm very excited, I'm a bit nervous but it will be a great experience I reckon," Ruby said.

The team of 16 met up in Sydney at the end of last week.

"Training camp goes from Friday to Sunday in Sydney, then we catch a bus on Sunday morning to Coffs and play for the week," she said.

The tournament allows players to perform at the National level against the best players from across the country and serves as a primary talent identification opportunity for NSW representative teams and the FFA various National Teams.

"Young Matildas are selected from this competition," Ruby said.

"And then they go overseas to play."

Ruby's idol is Matilda's captain Samantha Kerr.

"But I also like Alex Morgan from the USA and Ellie Carpenter because she comes from Cowra," Ruby said.

"I really enjoyed watching the Women's World Cup, we stayed up until 2am to watch one of the games."

The Year 7 Parkes High student has been playing for the Western NSW Mariners for the last three years and is now in the Under 14s team.

"Mariners keeps me busy," Ruby said.

"I've done six weekends away this year so far, the rest has been Cowra, Bathurst, Mudgee and Orange on Sundays.

"They have a talented sports program on Tuesday night in Orange every week, they have Wednesday Mariners every week in Orange and they have a district mariners on a Monday so three nights a week I am somewhere."

Once the championships are over the selection process starts again.

"We had selection for state teams a week ago," Ruby said.

"Because I was selected this year I automatically can go to the camps next year and it will still be for under 14s."

Ruby's team is playing in Pool B against Northern NSW, ACT, NT, Country Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.