The Fearless Warrior Podcast

142: The Visualization Behind One of Softball's Most Decorated Catchers, Jocelyn Erickson

• Amanda Schaefer

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We are so excited to share this mentorship call with Jocelyn Erickson, a University of Florida alum, two-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, 2024 NFCA National Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, and now a professional player for the Chicago Bandits She sat down with Coach Kara and our Warriors for a raw, honest conversation about visualization, identity, team culture, and what it really means to get over yourself and play for something bigger.

Episode Highlights:

  • Getting hyper-specific in visualization practice is exactly what prepares you for big game moments
  • Why thinking about your teammates instead of yourself actually makes you perform better
  • The ACL and double meniscus injury that sidelined her for almost a full year, and why she says she is grateful it happened
  • How surrounding yourself with the right people is the fastest way through the hardest seasons of your career
  • The one thing she would tell her younger self about time, presence, and never taking a practice for granted

Connect with Jocelyn:

IG: @joceyerickson

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Kara

All right. Good evening. We're excited to welcome tonight to our guest speaker, um, Jocelyn Erickson. We're excited to have her here for our mentorship call. Um, and just by way of introduction, you guys all probably know who she is already. If not, you should Google her. She's got a pretty, uh, impressive list of accomplishments next to her name. But, uh, Jocelyn Erickson originally grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, played, uh, basketball and softball in high school there. Um, she originally committed and played a year at Oklahoma, right? It was one year, right, at Oklahoma? Yeah, and won a Women's College World Series ring over there with Oklahoma in 2023. Uh, then she decided she wanted to catch full-time, so she transferred over to Florida. And this last year she played for Florida and, uh, just a couple of the list of accolades she, she racked up this last year at Florida was she was SEC Player of the Year, NFCA Catcher of the Year, NFCA Player of the Year, um, an All-American, and she won a Gold Glove just to, like, top it off, put the cherry on top. So she's a outstanding player, an outstanding catcher. Um, and so we are excited to invite her here tonight to be able to chat with you guys and to share a little bit of her story. So Jocelyn, welcome. I'll go ahead and toss it on over to you.

Jocelyn

Hey, guys. Thanks for joining us tonight. I kinda was... I was really, um, interested in talking with you guys tonight, 'cause I wanted to see what this whole Fearless program was about, 'cause I really wanna get into mentorship myself, 'cause the mental game and visualization is a huge part, especially at the college level, and I've noticed it play a big factor in my play, um, and, like, influence on my teammates as well. Um, so I just wanna emphasize how important it really is to train, your brain to think positively,, especially in negative situations, just in everyday life in general. Um, so when you're training your mental game specifically for your sport of softball, or any sport, when things go wrong, it's... I'm pretty sure you can probably relate to this. When things go wrong, it can be hard to turn them back around easily. Um, but if you train your brain to make a negative into a positive, then it is way easier to, get out of that slump or, let the failure go. And the way you do that is- Just like you do practice, you have to do it every single day. Well, not every single day, but like you, you gotta put the work in, um, in order to train your brain how you would your body. Um, and so like if you get out or you strike out, like affirmations, uh, about like you are a good hitter and the pitcher just did, did a good job that time. Like you are a good hitter. Um, and then another thing I would say For like visualizations when you are going through like a tough time, say, I don't know if any of you guys are pitchers, or hitters, but if you're pitching really badly and you just don't feel confident on the mound and you feel like everyone's looking at you because you're the center of the stage and it's just a lot of pressure, um, you need to visualize yourself in those situations so then when those situations arise, um, you're prepared for that moment just how you would if you're fielding ground balls and you're taking swings. When you're in the box in that moment, you're ready to hit, you're ready to make that play. Um, so like one thing that I do in practice is when I'm like either hitting off a machine or hitting BP, I'll visualize myself in a certain count and in a certain situation with runners on base, um, in a specific inning. Like I get very specific on what the situation is so then when I'm in that moment in a game, I'm like, "Oh, wait, I've already been here." Like I've already done this before, um, multiple times and there's been good results from it. So, um, that is one way that I have really seen my game go to the next level is visualizing, um, yourself in those moments so then you're prepared for when they actually do happen and you're not all stressed and the anxiety rises because you're gonna be cool, calm, and collected because you've done it before. Um, and the last thing I'm gonna add to the whole mental game visualization type of thing is to get over yourself. You have to get over yourself because the game is not all about you. Um, it is a team sport, and you have to work together with your teammates in order to accomplish your end goal. Like yes, there are individual awards, but the team awards are what like matter most. Like would you rather go three for three and your team lose, or would you rather go over three and your team win, but you helped your team out somehow, like you put a bunt down or, you know... Like I would rather the team win and me like get out, so it's about sacrifice and serving others, um- I really put an emphasis on reaching out to my teammates and building relationships with them, because that's what makes it the most fun. Um, especially when you're training softball every single day, it can get really draining, and you may fall out of love with the game. It may not be fun anymore. But if you're building relationships with the people who you're around, and you love the people who you're around, and they're gonna make it more enjoyable when, when hard times hit. Um, like I would much rather lose with a team that I love than win with a team that I'm not having the most fun with. Um, so yeah, really pour into your teammates. Um, be selfless. Your performance doesn't matter as much as you think it does. Um, yes, we wanna do well, yes, we wanna help the team, but all in all, when you're thinking about other people and not so much yourself, you genuinely, you'll play better. Um, because you won't feel so much pressure, "If I don't do this, then this isn't gonna happen, and I, I suck." Like, that's horrible mindset, horrible way to talk to yourself. Um, but if you're like- I'm gonna do the best I can for my team, and if I don't get it done, then they're gonna have my back. That is a beautiful thing, um, because you can't do everything by yourself, and when you feel like you have to do everything by yourself, that's when it gets really hard, and it, and the game just doesn't get fun anymore. So I know that was a lot. Um

Kara

That was great. Some great wisdom in there. I think that's awesome.

Jocelyn

Yeah. I know that was a lot, but that is what I've learned in my time playing this game of failure, so-

Kara

Right.

Jocelyn

Right I hope you guys took something from that.

Kara

That's awesome. I love what you talked about with, um, with like it not being about you and, and to think about, like, your teammates. I, I think you're a great example of that if you just look at your time at Oklahoma. You weren't starting in the position you wanted, right? You're a catcher at heart, and you wanted to play catcher at Oklahoma, but they didn't need you at catcher, right? So you played first base and designated player, and did amazing things at that position. Um, can you talk a little bit about what that process was like of, like, enjoying your role even if it's not the role that you expected or wanted to play?

Jocelyn

Yeah. I think it is definitely a learning experience. Um, especially, like, I'm sure there's other people who've been in my position. Well, I know there are, because I see freshmen on teams all across the country who are, like, the star of their team, and they're doing great, and then they don't necessarily get everything that they want. But it was definitely a learning experience because, um, y- you get humbled in the sense that you just need to do what your team needs. Um, it's not what you want, what you want, what you want. It's more, how can I use my talents to best benefit the people around me? And I think me as a freshman, I'm a completely different person now, um, especially, like, with my time at Florida. Um, the people here, like, have shaped me into someone who I love being. Um, and they've really helped me get the negativity out of my brain and not think so much about myself. Um, because it can, like... The game of softball can be a selfish game, and when people are playing selfishly and just for themselves, you can tell, and it just doesn't vibe right with the whole team. So, um, yeah. It's definitely a learning experience, and I'm glad that I was able to be in that position in order to help my team in, in l- many different ways. And now that I look back, like, I can relate to the freshmen on, say, my team, who are the pinch hitter in the seventh inning, but they haven't swung a bat in, like, two hours, or The, the freshman or sophomore or transfer who gets thrown in in the seventh inning for defense. Like, in those pressure situations it can be hard. Um, but I have, I've been in those situations, so it's easier for me to relate to them.

Kara

Yeah. I mean, uh, that's, that's, uh, such a wise thing to understand that, like, sometimes those things that are hardest in our lives are the things that help us then relate better to other people. And as someone who's slightly way older than you, like, I can tell you that extends way beyond softball as well. That I, I notice that, that the things that I've gone through that are hard in my life, it allows me then to turn around and serve others when they're going through those similar hard things. And it's the same in softball, and that's what really creates that leadership, that team culture of, like, saying, "Hey, I've been where you are. I understand what it's like. Like, together we can get through this." Like, that's- Mm-hmm that's huge on a team to be able to do that. So just wanting everything to be super easy and roses is a nice idea, but it's honestly not, not the best way to, like, build a team or build up yourself even in the long run. Yeah. So.

Jocelyn

Life is hard, the game is hard, and-

Kara

Yeah things

Jocelyn

don't always go right, so you gotta-

Kara

That's right

Jocelyn

a way to work through the adversity.

Kara

Yeah. That's awesome. Well, I love that, um, I love that I saw that you played basketball in high school. Um, I know we got a couple other girls on the call that are in basketball season right now. Yeah. Uh, what would you say, being a multi-sport athlete, what do you think basketball taught you that makes you a better softball player?

Jocelyn

That's a really good question. Um, I had a really good coach in high school, um, who drilled into me grit and determination and just, like, fight. 'Cause, basketball is a very physical sport, especially girls basketball. Like Mm-hmm people be throwing elbows, like, everywhere. Um, I'm, I was one of them in high school. Um, but yeah, my coach really, distilled in me, like, doing the little things right. Like, when you're running suicides, you touch the line. When you're boxing out, you make sure that no, no one from the other team is gonna get the ball. Um- And it wa- I just remember that time, and it was, like, basketball practice was hard, but the games were so rewarding because you did all that hard work, and then you were able to just go out and play, and it was just so fun. Um, yeah, it was, it was some hard work. I'm, like-

Kara

Yeah.

Jocelyn

having flashbacks, but-

Kara

It's different. It's different than

Jocelyn

softball. Yeah. Yeah, it is.

Kara

Hard in a different way.

Jocelyn

Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, my coach was amazing in high school, so I really owe a lot of those lessons.

Kara

Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah, th- just that idea of just being able to push hard and be able to, like, see what you can do and, and push past your point of discomfort to, to get to the other side is a huge lesson to learn, to realize, "I can do hard things," and so then when it gets hard, it's o- it's okay.

Jocelyn

Yeah.

Kara

Um, yeah, I, I'm a big proponent of multiple sports. I think, I think it helps all of us be better athletes. But, um, I do wanna ask you, I saw that you tore your ACL as, was it a junior in high school?

Jocelyn

Yes.

Kara

Uh, so what was that like, first off, to do that as a junior, which is such an important year as far as recruiting goes, right? Um, what was that like for you to tear your ACL, and what was the process like to be able to, like, get yourself back to where you wanted to be in a year? 'Cause you were back playing your senior year.

Jocelyn

Yes. Um, yeah, so I had already been committed, 'cause I committed in, like, eighth grade before the rule change. Um, so I was still committed at that time,, but it was right after COVID, um, and so we had just, gotten back into school. I was, like, wearing a mask while I was playing basketball. It was like I was, like, suffocating on the court. Yeah. Um, but we, our season had gotten postponed, like, a few months, and then I ended up tearing my ACL the f- the second game of season. Um, and it was gonna be, like, a pretty big year for me, 'cause I had been on varsity sophomore year, and so I was already, like... knew my role already, like, knew the plays. Um, and so it was devastating when that happened, because I not only missed basically my whole basketball season, but then my junior softball season also. But I am, like, I don't know if you know many people who are, like, thankful that they tore their ACL, But, I am so thankful for the experience that I had going through rehab, and physical therapy. The place that I went to was, it was called EXOS. Um, they have a few locations. I know there's one in Florida. There's one in Arizona that I went to, and I think there's one in Texas. Um, but it was, like, a legit place where NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, a bunch of, pro athletes would go and train there. And so when I was doing my rehab, I was around,, greatness, every day., And the facility was great, and it was just, like- I had no doubt in my mind that I wasn't gonna make it back. And kinda going off, the visualization thing that I was talking about earlier, I'm a big manifestor. Um, and so, like, when you're thinking something, it's probably gonna happen. Um, like, I had no doubt that I wasn't gonna make it back. I knew I was gonna focus on playing softball and not go back to playing, multiple sports, 'cause I needed to get my knee better. And catching, like, you gotta get that flexibility right. My knees are my babies. But yeah, it was a, a really trial, like, a big trial in my life, more, more mentally than anything, just because I wasn't in school, in-person school. I was doing school online at the time. I had just gotten taken, or just got taken away from my team, so wasn't around my teammates. And, like, COVID had just happened. I kind of felt alone, like I was doing it alone. And so I had to figure out a way to push through that. And a big thing was the people who you surround yourself with. So, like, my PTs and the interns there were literally amazing people, and I don't think I would've been able to do it without them, because they were great encouragers, especially on hard days when I was like, "I can't do this." Um, but then you look back, like I look back, and that was, like, six years ago I'm aging myself. Um

Kara

You're still young. Yeah. It's fine.

Jocelyn

Yeah. Um, but I look back and I'm like, yeah, I just, I rehabbed my ACL and both meniscuses. I can do literally anything. Um, so it's like what you said before, like, once you do hard things and you push through the hard things, like, you know you can do it and you feel like you can do anything.

Kara

Yeah. That's awesome. All right. Um, I wanted to leave some time for you ladies. See if you guys have any questions for Joslyn. If you wanna unmute or you can put it in the chat, whichever you prefer. Go ahead and ask whatever burning questions you guys on, got on your mind.

Jocelyn

I don't bite.

Kara

Yeah. She'll, she'll answer. Wait, someone has their hands up. Who is it?

Jocelyn

My number. In the chat someone said, "What is my number?" Oh. I'm number eight. Um, and funny story, I used to be number double zero when I was younger, and then I got to a new team and there was a double zero, so I was like, "Oh, let me just stack the zeroes on top of each other," so that's why I'm

Kara

number eight now. That's an awesome origin story. Wow.

Jocelyn

Yeah.

Kara

Yeah.

Jocelyn

And I stuck with it- She's

Kara

number eight

Jocelyn

ever since, so.

Kara

That's really great. All right. Andy, go for it. Andy, you gotta show your sweatshirt off. A- Andy's our Florida fan.

Jocelyn

Oh, yeah.

Warrior 1

What are you

Warrior 2

majoring in?

Jocelyn

I'm majoring in sport management. So it i- it's a bunch of business classes, um, relating to the sport field, 'cause I wanna eventually work in professional sports. Um, hopefully the MLB, but I'm open to other options.

Kara

Awesome. All right, Sophia?

Warrior 2

Um, what got you into playing, like, softball?

Jocelyn

Good question. So I'm the baby of my family, and I have four other siblings who all play multiple sports too. So I kind of just like followed in their footsteps playing multiple sports. But two of my older sisters played softball, and they are also catchers too, so I'd always just tag along and train with them. Um, and funny story, I actually didn't wanna be a catcher. Um, on... My sister, she's like two and a half, three years older than me, um, and we were on the same wreck ball team, and I would pitch and she would catch me. I wanted to be a pitcher. And then when she would pitch, she threw so hard that no one wanted to catch her or no one could catch her, so they stuck me behind there, and I would jam my thumb. Like, she threw so hard and was so wild, I would jam my thumb, and it would s- hurt so bad that I just didn't wanna catch. Um, but then I just kept catching, and I got better, and I started to like it.

Kara

And, and now that's what... That's where you wanna be.

Jocelyn

Yeah. No, I-

Kara

That's funny how that happens.

Jocelyn

Yeah. It's crazy.

Kara

You never... Do you ever get up on the mound and, like, be like, "Pitchers, watch. This is how it goes."

Jocelyn

I mean, yeah, like, I'll throw a few pitches, but after like five, my arm's on fire, so I'm like-

Kara

Can't do it anymore.

Jocelyn

Yeah.

Kara

Awesome. All right. Chloe, you got your hand up.

Warrior 3

Um, did you, like, look up to someone when you were little?

Jocelyn

Yes. Um, so my two... The two people who I would look up to were... I used to watch Keilani Ricketts, um, pitch. It was like the 2012 national championship, I think. Um, and she was a lefty, and she would hit lefty, and so... And like, obviously, like, I wanted to be a pitcher. So I was like, "Oh, this is so cool." Like, um, and then the other person I looked up to was, uh, later, um, she play- I don't, I don't remember what year she graduated, but, uh, it was Janelle Wheaton. She was a left-handed catcher for Florida, and she also played for the same travel ball organization that I played for out of California, so it was kind of cool connection. And I, I actually ended up meeting her, um, in one of my practices, so it was cool.

Kara

You meet K- Keilani ever?

Jocelyn

Yeah, actually. Um- Oh, you did? uh, this past fall actually.

Kara

Oh, really? Yeah. I was gonna say, they were... A bunch of, a bunch of those, uh, Oklahoma, prior Oklahoma players have been at, like, the, uh, World Series cheering Oklahoma on the last couple years. Like, they always pan over to them on the ESPN broadcasts.

Jocelyn

Yeah. Well, K- Keilani's still kicking it. She's still, uh... She had a baby, but she, uh, is still playing, so.

Kara

Yeah, that's hardcore.

Jocelyn

Yeah.

Kara

Uh, all right. Okay, Maddie, go for it.

Warrior 1

What is your pre-game meal?

Jocelyn

Oh, um, I love a good peanut butter and honey sandwich. Um, sometimes I'll put banana on it too. It's just a really good... Like it's got protein, it's got... Honey is like sugar, so it'll, like, give you some energy. Um, and then the bread is like carbs. So I don't know, it just, it fills me up, but then it also gives me energy and it also tastes good. So I love, love a good peanut butter sandwich.

Kara

A nice, easy on-the-go type thing.

Jocelyn

Yeah.

Kara

All right, what else do you guys got? Oh, Sophia. Oh, sorry. Your hand's still up from earlier. Go ahead.

Warrior 2

What made you choose, um, softball over basketball moving to college?

Jocelyn

Good question. Um, I had only ever played... So I played volleyball too, but I only ever played basketball and volleyball for, like, my school. So, like, I played in middle school. Um, well, growing up I would play, like, my YMCA. Um, but then when I got to, like, middle school and high school, I would only play volleyball and basketball for the school, and softball was the only sport that I played travel ball for. So that's, like, how I got recruited so young because I was on a team with a lot of talent, um, and we got in front of some college coaches and they were interested and stuff. Um, but I think, I think I kind of fell into it because of my older sisters. Um, they had been, like, through the recruiting process and everything, and I don't know, I just, I just like... I like how it's hard. It's so hard. Um, but it also involves a lot of hand-eye coordination, and so I feel like if you can play softball or, like, if you can play baseball, you can play literally any other sport.

Kara

It's true. Transfers a lot. All right, Chloe

Warrior 3

Um, what did you learn from volleyball?

Jocelyn

Good question. Um, volleyball was kind of just, like, an outlet for me, um, 'cause it, it never had to be super serious. It was just fun playing with my friends. Um, and so I think I just learned how to enjoy the game, um, how to not take things too seriously, and how to really enjoy the people that you're around. Um, like still to this day I'll go and play, like, volleyball on the sand court, um, with, like, some of my friends, and it's just, like, fun. Um, like, it's, like, the little things in life are what make you smile, so yeah.

Kara

That's awesome. Volleyball's fun too, 'cause you can play it even when you're old. That's also nice. Yes. Um, all right, Maddie, you got another one?

Warrior 1

Um, what age did you start playing travel softball?

Jocelyn

Um, I think I started when I was eight. Um, that's when I got out of rec ball and I, I think I started in a 10U team with my sister

Kara

How many did you, how many years did you play with your sister?

Jocelyn

I think I played with her till I was 12, so like four years.

Kara

That's awesome.

Jocelyn

But then, um, she would, she would eventually move up to the older team, and then I'd stay down with the younger kids, so.

Kara

Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. I always wanted to play on a team with a sibling and never... That's not true. I played with one of my sisters for a little bit. Uh, lily asks, "What's it like at Florida? What kind of things do they offer? What are the players in the community like?" Uh, what's it like to play softball at Florida?

Jocelyn

Playing softball at Florida is a dream. Um, I love the people the most. The place is pretty cool too. Um, but I love the people the most just because of the way that they impact my life, not only athletically, but academically, professionally, um, and just like in the real world. Um, they... We have this, uh, group called Gators Experience, and they help you develop leadership, um, different leadership styles, and they help you get into the community and do community service, and they help you anything professional-wise that you need in order to, like, get a job. Like, they'll help you work on your resume. Um, they'll help you do mock interviews. Like, they are so amazing. Um, but I think the one thing at Florida is, like, you can do it all. You can be a... wanna be... go to med school and be an athlete. You can want to be a rocket scientist. Like, one of my teammates wants to be a rocket scientist.

Kara

That's awesome.

Jocelyn

I was like, "You're crazy, but go off." Um, so- Yeah. Literally so, like, you can do it all at Florida because the support here is just, like, out of this world, and I- I'm just, like, so happy that I fell into this place.

Kara

That's awesome. All right. Well, we are out of time. I know you girls still have a couple of questions. Um, you can find Jocelyn on, on Instagram. I bet you could probably DM her. She probably would respond. She's, she's that kind of person. But, um, so we'll just go ahead and wrap up. I have... We have one question that we always ask everybody that comes to these mentorship calls, and that question is if you could go back and put yourself in these ladies' shoes that are all here tonight, these, these girls, and tell yourself one thing, what would you tell yourself?

Jocelyn

If I could go back, I would tell myself, um, that the days really do stack up, and to never take a day for granted. Never take a practice for granted, even when you're tired and you don't wanna be there. Um, time flies really fast, and you're not gonna be there very soon. Um, so I would just say enjoy the moment, enjoy the journey. Be where your feet are. Don't think too much about what happened in the past or what happened in the future, just enjoy the moment where it's at.

Kara

That's great advice. Well, thank you so much for coming and doing this. We really, really appreciate it. Um, and we wish you and Florida the best luck. We'll definitely be watching and cheering you on.

Jocelyn

Yes. Thank you, guys. This was fun. Go Gators.

Contributor

Amanda Schaefer

Host