Jean-François Richard: Insights on Teaching and Coaching

Written By: Skylar Jardine, Communications, Marketing, and Event Management Coordinator, PGA of Canada Atlantic

5-minute Read

Dr. Jean-François Richard's success in the golf industry may appear rapid and remarkable. Despite being relatively new to golf, but he is no stranger to coaching. From an early age, his passion for personal development was evident, yet he found his greatest fulfillment in helping others achieve their goals.  

As a ‘Class A’ Teaching Professional at the Louis Melanson Golf Academy in Moncton, N.B., Golf NB Provincial Boys Coach, and National Learning Facilitator for the PGA of Canada and the National Coaches Certification Program (NCCP), Richard has established a remarkable reputation.

In the past year, he received the PGA of Canada Atlantic ‘Teacher of the Year’ award and the PGA of Canada ‘George Knudson Teacher of the Year’ award, underscoring his performance as a teaching professional.

Jean-François Richard and Wayne Allen, National Award Ceremony

Jean-François Richard brings 36 years of professional experience as a teacher, coach, coach educator, administrator and researcher. His extensive research in the fields of sport pedagogy and coaching science has allowed him to apply his teaching and coaching expertise across various sports, from track and field to hockey, and now to golf. 

Being a great teacher or coach isn’t just about mastering the intricacies of the game or sport; it’s also about knowing the individuals you teach/coach and understanding their reasons for being involved in sport.  As golf evolves, so do its players, and recognizing this evolution is crucial. 

Developing relationships with his adult students has allowed Jean-François to “transition from traditional golf instruction to golf coaching,” Richard notes, “Different populations and individuals have different goals and aspirations, and it’s all very motivating for me.”

 Success on the golf course evolves as students advance in skill level, highlighting the importance of relationship development. By working through technical, tactical and mental skills, players can understand “what success looks like to them because it’s different for everyone.” 

This emphasis on relationships in the teaching-learning process does not undermine the importance of performance analysis, which is at the very core of the teaching/coaching process. Analytical competencies drive the technical development of athletes by identifying and addressing areas for improvement. Dr. Richard embraces a coaching philosophy focused on “enjoying the sport for what it is, in the sense of lifelong participation.” His vision is to help athletes achieve self-fulfillment, whether at a competitive level or simply for recreation.  

Junior Lesson with JF Richard and Louis Melanson

For those who are interested in pursuing teaching and/or coaching as a full-time career, it is vital that one keeps evolving in relation to the various components that are fundamental to becoming a competent teacher/coach. One dimension that is often overlooked is the administrative aspect of teaching and coaching.

Jean-François views the administrative dimension of the job as both a challenge and an opportunity for newcomers.

Richard states that all good teachers and coaches are well organized and great relationship builders. Great relationships are created, in part, through regular, ongoing and clear communication. As a golf teaching professional, the teaching-learning process should go beyond the lesson tee. Following-up with students is a crucial part of learning.  By creating video follow-ups and practice plans tailored to the student’s progression, the learning process becomes more efficient, and students evolve more efficiently.  

To stay organized, Jean-François uses various apps to connect with clients. After each lesson, Jean-Richard typically spends 30-45 minutes preparing video follow ups and practice plans (drill progressions) for all his students.  

Richard emphasizes that it's crucial for coaches to understand "how to plan, how to be efficient as a teacher from an administrative standpoint, because teachers/coaches can fail not out of lack of knowledge, but because they haven't grasped the administrative aspect." But how can coaches develop these skills? 

Mentorship is one approach.  

The PGA of Canada Training Academy presented by Titleist and Footjoy provides apprentices with valuable mentorship opportunities within their specialization. This enables them to learn from experienced professionals, effectively combining their technical education with industry best practices. Reflecting on his experience with various organizations and programs, Richard finds that "PGA the Training Academy, its structure, and the general apprentice program orientation are very well organized." 

Regarding emerging trends in teaching and coaching, technology is undeniably reshaping the industry. While advancements now allow beginners to know precise details of their swing, they still depend on their coaches’ capabilities to explain why they perform the way they do and, more importantly, how to improve! This highlights the importance of building strong client relationships by showcasing your expertise in performance analysis, as a pedagogue, and as an efficient administrator.

Jean-François Richard’s brief career in the golf industry has been extraordinary, earning him prestigious teaching awards at both regional and national levels. His achievements reflect his deep community involvement and extensive experience in diverse coaching roles.  Richard has recently ventured into the field of adaptive golf after completing training with the European Disabled Golf Association. He acknowledges that “the practical aspect of working with adaptive golfers or paragolfers is very new to me,” but he is dedicated to creating more opportunities for adaptive golf in the Moncton area.  

For Jean-François Richard, different challenges are simply opportunities to learn something new and continue to grow both personally and professionally.

If you're interested in connecting with Jean-François Richard, check out his Professional Profile! 

The Atlantic Zone is committed to showcasing its members. If you know of an Atlantic professional with an interesting experience or unique perspective, please reach out to Skylar Jardine, Marketing Coordinator for the zone.