The Pahrump High School Girls’ Soccer Team is poised for an exciting season under the leadership of their head coach, Amy Carlson. With a passion for coaching that spans over two decades, Coach Carlson brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the field. “I have been coaching youth sports since I was 16 years old. It started as a way to volunteer in the community in an area (athletics) that I enjoyed, and has turned into a true passion,” she shares. Her journey began with coaching baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer, eventually leading to the formation of the Pahrump Jr. Trojans Soccer Club in 2016. This club aimed to prepare young players for competitive high school soccer.
Coach Carlson joined the high school coaching staff in 2022 and was thrilled to take over as Head Varsity Girls Soccer Coach in 2023. With over 20 years of coaching experience, primarily in softball and soccer, she emphasizes understanding each athlete’s strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. “Coaching is about understanding each athlete’s strengths, weaknesses, and motivations to help them perform at their best. It involves clear communication, setting achievable goals, and providing constructive feedback,” she explains.
The team faces the challenge of replacing the talent lost with the graduation of the Class of 2024, which included 10 seniors. However, Coach Carlson is optimistic about the six strong returning players and the enthusiastic JV team. “My biggest goal is to continue the path that the girl’s soccer program has been on over the past few years. It is going to be different with some challenges, but I believe these girls are capable of meeting those challenges,” she asserts. The team has been working hard over the summer, participating in conditioning and skills training to prepare for the season.
Coach Carlson’s coaching philosophy is a holistic approach that emphasizes both personal and athletic development, aiming to empower players to reach their full potential on and off the field. She takes great pleasure in getting to know each individual player, recognizing their unique interests and ambitions outside of soccer. This understanding allows her to foster a cohesive team environment where everyone comes together on the field. “Overall, my coaching philosophy aims to empower players to reach their full potential both on and off the field,” she asserts.
Central to her philosophy is a player-centered approach, where each player’s strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and learning styles are identified and addressed. This individualized attention helps tailor coaching strategies to maximize each player’s growth and performance. “By recognizing their individuality, I can tailor coaching strategies to maximize their growth and performance,” Carlson explains. She believes in the power of teamwork and effective communication, ensuring mutual respect, trust, and camaraderie among the players. This creates a winning dynamic essential for success.
Sportsmanship and character development are also crucial elements of her philosophy. She emphasizes the importance of integrity and respect for teammates, opponents, and officials. This focus on character helps build a strong, positive team culture. Development of fundamental skills relevant to each position is another cornerstone of her approach, allowing players to execute more complex techniques and strategies during games effectively.
Continuous improvement and a growth mindset are at the heart of her coaching style. Coach Carlson encourages her players to set ambitious yet achievable goals, seek constant feedback, and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. She expects hard work and resilience from her players, working on skills until they are mastered to the best of their ability. This philosophy extends to herself and her coaching staff, who are also committed to continual improvement and adapting to better support the players.
Lastly, Coach Carlson believes that a positive and enjoyable environment is crucial for learning and performance. She ensures that practices are engaging, varied, and rewarding, which helps maintain player motivation and commitment. This balanced approach not only prepares her players for success on the soccer field but also equips them with valuable life skills.
To evaluate and develop the skills of each player, the team conducted basic skills tests and timed activities like running the mile at the beginning of the summer. This allowed them to set individual goals and measure progress. “Every drill or test is against themselves in a sense. Their goal is to beat their own previous results,” Coach Carlson explains. This method has not only improved individual skills but also fostered a strong team dynamic, with returning players helping to teach the new ones.
Building a successful high school girls’ soccer team involves caring about the athletes and celebrating their achievements. “I want my players to succeed, whatever that looks like for them. Instilling hard work and self-confidence is also a big element. It is important to celebrate their ‘wins’, whether that is them scoring their first goal, passing a big test in class, or the state championship,” she emphasizes.
Fitness and conditioning are crucial for the team’s success, especially given the hot weather they face during most of the season. Coach Carlson stresses the importance of hydration, stretching, and nutrition to maintain personal fitness and prepare for competitive matches.
Engaging with the school’s community and encouraging support for the girls’ soccer team is also a priority. She emphasizes the importance of visibility and community involvement, leveraging social media to promote home games and encourage attendance. “We will be posting about our home games for families to share on social media, and would love to see a crowd in the stands,” she explains. The athletic department also plays a crucial role by sharing information about all sports events, fostering a supportive environment. In return, the girls’ soccer team shows their support for other fall sports by attending their games, aiming to build a strong, interconnected community of student-athletes and supporters.
While fundraising and field space are ongoing challenges, Coach Carlson remains positive and collaborative with other coaches to overcome these obstacles. The team looks forward to playing matches against strong competitors and participating in local tournaments. “We always look forward to playing Cimmaron. Even though they are a 5A school, it is always a good match with great sportsmanship. It never hurts if you can be competitive with a program of their caliber,” she says.
Coach Carlson’s ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on her players’ lives, helping them gain confidence, self-respect, and respect for others. Success for the team is measured not just by wins and losses but by growth, sportsmanship, and attitude. “Growth, individually and as a team. Being able to learn from both wins and losses. Being able to accept defeat and not make excuses,” she notes.
For aspiring young soccer players, Coach Carlson advises setting goals and being willing to put in the work. “To be able to compete at a higher level, your commitment needs to go beyond practices. Show up, work hard, but enjoy the game. Education is a key aspect of the next level,” she emphasizes.
As the team embarks on a new season, the players are ready to showcase their hard work and dedication. They are ready to face the season with resilience, sportsmanship, and a collective drive to succeed and hope to see the community in the stands showing their support.
