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In-Depth Summary of the Podcast with Rachel Holden
Overview
In this episode of the Stay Connected podcast, the host interviews Rachel Holden, the hitting coordinator for the Chicago Cubs, who shares her unique career journey and experiences in both professional baseball and softball. Rachel discusses the lessons learned in her first year with the Cubs, the importance of managing relationships, and her approach to creating effective training environments.
Key Points
1. Introduction to Rachel Holden:
- Background: Rachel Holden is currently a hitting coordinator with the Chicago Cubs and has extensive experience in both professional baseball and softball.
- Roles: Hitting coordinator for the Chicago Cubs, with a history of playing and coaching in both sports.
2. Career Journey:
- Early Career: Rachel grew up playing baseball and softball, transitioned from baseball to softball in high school, and went on to play college softball at Marshall.
- Coaching Start: After playing professional softball, she moved into coaching, initially in college, then giving private lessons which grew into her business, Bold In Fast Pitch.
- Partnership and Transition to Cubs: Partnered with Elite Baseball Training, where she learned advanced hitting techniques. Through this connection, she was encouraged to apply for a position with the Cubs and eventually became a minor league hitting coach, later transitioning to a coordinator role.
3. First Year with the Cubs:
- Learning the Structure: Transitioning from the unstructured environment of professional softball to the highly structured world of professional baseball.
- Listening and Collaboration: Rachel emphasizes the importance of listening and collaborating with a team of experienced coaches, a departure from her previous roles where she was more autonomous.
4. Role as a Coordinator:
- Macro View: As a coordinator, she gained a broader perspective on the system, understanding the importance of having a systematic approach to coaching.
- Coaching Through Coaches: Her role involves coaching the coaches, helping them improve their methods while maintaining the integrity of the system.
5. Staying Open-Minded:
- Curiosity and Continuous Learning: Rachel highlights the importance of staying curious and open to new ideas, often sparked by player inquiries or new trends in training.
- Using Social Media: She uses platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok to stay updated on new training methods and trends.
6. Importance of Challenging Practice:
- Game-Like Training: Emphasizes creating a training environment that mimics game conditions to improve player performance.
- Clear-Cut Tasks: Ensures that each drill has a clear objective and a way to "beat" the drill, making practice sessions more effective.
7. Managing Relationships:
- Building Trust: Rachel discusses the importance of building relationships with players and coaches, understanding their needs, and creating a partnership.
- Individual Attention: Tailoring her approach to each player, especially important in her upcoming role as the Double-A hitting coach.
8. Balancing Development and Performance:
- Slow Progress: Recognizes that some aspects of player development take time and emphasizes the need for patience and long-term planning.
- Objective Measures: Uses key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and make informed decisions about when to adjust training methods.
9. Advice for Aspiring Coaches:
- Reach Out and Ask Questions: Encourages aspiring coaches to reach out to others in the field, ask questions, and not be afraid to seek help.
- Continuous Improvement: Emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset and the willingness to learn from others.
10. Future Plans:
- Continuing Education: Rachel is interested in exploring new areas such as motor preferences to further improve her coaching techniques.
- Creating Effective Training Environments: Aims to develop training environments that help players focus on game aspects rather than over-mechanizing their swings.
11. Closing Thoughts:
- Steward for the Game: Rachel emphasizes the importance of growing the game and helping others, reflecting her commitment to the sport.
- Contact Information: Encourages listeners to reach out to her via social media for questions or further discussion.