In sport, we don’t accept low standards on the field — so why should we online? Exploring the reasons why eLearning fails can help us raise the bar for educational success on these platforms.
More and more sports organisations are turning to digital education to train staff, engage fans, educate coaches, and support communities. But the truth is, many eLearning programs fail to deliver the results they promise.
Poor engagement, low completion rates, and limited data are all too common.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone and you’re not beyond repair. At Playbk Sports, we’ve helped professional clubs and National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) turn things around with tailored digital learning solutions that work.
This article unpacks why eLearning fails, especially in the sporting context and shows you exactly how to fix it, without starting from scratch.
1. Generic Content That Misses the Mark
One of the leading reasons why eLearning fails is because the content feels disconnected. Learners can tell when a course has been rebranded or white-labelled. It lacks authenticity, relevance, and trust.
In sport, your people are your brand. A templated course doesn’t represent your voice or values and your audience tunes out.
✅ How to fix it: Personalise the experience. We build every course around your athletes, coaches and culture — putting your IP and people front and centre. This drives deeper connection and higher engagement.
Combining our football and community expertise with Playbk’s specialised approach to sport and education will inspire the next generation of Eagles throughout Western Australia.
Don Pyke, CEO at West coast Eagles
2. Video Hosting Platforms That Aren’t Built for Learning
YouTube and Vimeo are great for marketing but a no go for online learning. Another common reason why eLearning fails is because video content is uploaded to platforms that lack structure, analytics and security.
Without control over video access, sequencing and progress tracking, you lose visibility and learners lose motivation.
✅ How to fix it: Use a platform designed for education. That’s why we partner with ClickView, trusted by over 6,000 schools across Australia. With interactive features, curriculum alignment, and deep reach across education, it’s the right environment for impactful learning.
3. No Clear Learning Design or Strategy
Even good content can fall flat without the right structure. Learners get lost if there’s no logical flow, no scaffolding and no clear outcome.
We often see sport organisations invest in content creation without considering how modules should build on each other or how to measure understanding.
✅ How to fix it: Apply learning design best practices. Our team includes qualified educators and instructional designers who understand how people learn, especially in sport. We design courses that follow a clear path, keep content short and purposeful and guide users through to completion (and game day activation).
4. No Data (or the Wrong Data)
If you can’t see who’s completing your courses, where they’re dropping off, or what device they’re using, you can’t improve.
That’s another core reason why eLearning fails — organisations aren’t equipped with the insights to adapt or optimise.
✅ How to fix it: Use bespoke analytics tailored to sport With Playbk, your LMS includes real-time data on users, completions, geography, devices, e-commerce, and more. We turn numbers into actionable strategy.
Case in Point:
Inside the AusBike Digital, impacting over 26,000 students across Australia with an average 8 minute time on platform per user / per log-in — results driven by data-backed design, not guesswork.
This ClickView stream provides an added layer of data and pipeline into target users – teachers and students.
5. You’re Doing Too Much, With Too Little Support
If you’re managing tech, writing scripts, filming videos, uploading courses, reporting outcomes, and trying to stay strategic — you’ll burn out. Another major reason why eLearning fails is that internal teams don’t have the capacity to maintain or scale the program effectively.
✅ How to fix it: Partner with an end-to-end provider We don’t just hand over a login and leave. We deliver:
- Strategic planning and roadmaps
- Customised tech development
- Learning design and course creation
- Videography and production
- Ongoing data, analytics, and support
- Marketing assets, press releases and promotions
With us, your LMS becomes a digital asset — not just another project.
Ready to Turn It Around?
If you’ve launched an eLearning program and it hasn’t delivered the results you hoped for, don’t scrap it — fix it.
Start with our free guide:
📥 Unlocking the Future: Smarter LMS Planning for Sports Organisations
Or reach out to chat with our team. Whether you’re building new or refining an existing course, we’re here to help!
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About Playbk Sports
Playbk Sports delivers premium digital solutions for sport.
Since 2015, we’ve partnered with elite clubs and national sporting bodies to design tailored eLearning programs, digital athlete development programs and fully-branded LMS platforms. Our work empowers coaches, athletes, teachers, and fans – growing participation, building capability and creating measurable impact that matters.
From teams across the AFL to the NRL, NBL, NFL, AusCycling, Little Athletics Australia and Special Olympics Australia, we’re trusted to translate sporting excellence into transformative learning experiences. Whether it’s inspiring the next generation or up-skilling entire communities, we help sport organisations lead with purpose in the digital age.
