Career change in France: from UK prison officer to badminton coach

I have been living in Normandy since 1987 because my wife is French, although I was working in the UK until I retired from the prison service in 2013. 

I was a senior officer at an institution for young offenders from 15 to 22 years old. Since my retirement I have lived in Normandy full-time.

I have always played a lot of sport, football and badminton in particular. I played for the county in both. As part of that, I became a qualified badminton coach, but I never really taught it. 

However, I was in the garden one day when someone came by giving out flyers for local sporting associations. When I mentioned that I was a qualified badminton coach, he asked me to apply for the job.

I went and had an interview (in French) – and got the job. Obviously, as my wife is French I do speak the language. 

We have three adult children together and I also have three children with my first wife.

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Paid by an association and a school

I know a lot of trainers are volunteers, but I am salaried. 

The hours depend on how many people sign up each year. I teach adults and children, and although I am now 70, I have no intention of stopping.

Once I started coaching in one club, other people also asked me to coach as well, so it snowballed from there. 

I also coach at the local school. The maire put my name forward when they were planning their activités périscolaires, so I went along for an interview and then did a Q&A session at the PTA. I was amazed to get the job, to be honest.

Coaching has polished up my French because the kids I teach laugh when I make mistakes. It is enriching and fulfilling coaching in French. I have learned a lot about French society and families. When we have the end-of-year barbecue I see how everyone comes together.

Coaching has also kept me physically fit. Badminton is an all-round sport. 

I especially enjoy teaching seven to 16-year-olds, because they have not developed any bad habits. They pick it up so quickly and I am so proud of them when they succeed. Some of them have gone on to compete at high levels.

I do not do it for the money, but rather the pleasure of it. It gives me an interest in life and I am not planning on giving it up any time soon. I love it.

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How to provide a background check

Anyone working with minors needs an extrait de casier judiciaire to show whether they have a criminal record and, if so, the details of it. It is simple and free to apply for online and usually arrives within a few days. 

More details can be found here, including how to request one: (in English as well as French).

In an effort to stamp out sexual abuse of young sportspeople, associations are now also required to check any educator's honorabilité to weed out anyone with a record of sexual misdemeanours. For more details (in French only), see: tinyurl.com/honorab

Coaches, trainers or sports monitors also need to be licensed by joining the relevant national federation. 

Professional (i.e. salaried) coaches must be officially qualified. The minimum requirement is a Brevet d’etat d’éducateur sportif. Volunteers can attend shorter training courses organised by the relevant federation.

A freelance coach needs professional insurance, but a salaried one is covered by their employer's insurance. In practical terms, you need to speak at least a bit of French, although this is not a legal requirement.

You can approach local associations, schools, sports centres and the mairie to offer your services as a volunteer, or to find employment opportunities.

Read more: How to give one hour a month to your local community in France