Many sporting organisations, including National Governing Bodies (NGBs), Active Partnerships and national sports organisations, already use a Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver training. On paper, this should make things easier. But in reality, a lot of systems don’t quite fit the bill. They’re often complicated, expensive, or just not designed with the sporting workforce in mind.
A big reason for this is that many LMS platforms were originally created for internal staff training in large companies. They’ve since been adapted for external users, but the result can be clunky, unintuitive and not suited to coaches, officials, volunteers or partners working in sport.
If your system feels like more of a burden than a benefit, it might be time to ask whether it’s really right for your organisation.
Here are some signs your LMS may not be fit for purpose and what you should expect from a better one.
1. Is it easy to use?
If your LMS feels like hard work, engagement will always be low. Training should be easily accessible and straightforward, not confusing or frustrating. A good system is designed to be intuitive, so learners can get going without needing endless instructions.
2. Does it fit around busy lives?
The sporting workforce is often juggling training alongside jobs, family life and volunteering. If your LMS doesn’t work well on mobile devices or demands awkward log-ins, people won’t stick with it. The right system makes training flexible so learners can dip in when it suits them.
3. Are you getting value for money?
It’s easy to end up paying for features built for corporate settings that your learners will never use. If your LMS is expensive but doesn’t deliver the value you need, it’s the wrong system. A good LMS should be cost-effective, giving you more room to invest in wider priorities.
4. Can you track progress properly?
One of the main reasons to use an LMS is to monitor and report on training. If your current platform makes reporting difficult or doesn’t give clear insights, you’re missing out on one of its biggest benefits. Tracking should be straightforward, so you always know who’s completed what and where gaps remain.
5. Is the training engaging?
Systems originally built for corporate compliance often rely on static slides and tick-box exercises. That won’t cut it in sport, where energy and engagement matter. The right LMS should support interactive content, such as videos, scenarios and quizzes, to keep people motivated.
6. Can it adapt as things change?
Sport is constantly evolving, whether it’s updated safeguarding rules, new governance standards, or changes in best practice. If your LMS makes updating courses slow, expensive, or complicated, you’ll always be playing catch-up. A suitable system should allow quick updates and scale as your needs grow.
Final Thoughts
Owning an LMS doesn’t automatically mean your training is working well. Many platforms are designed for internal corporate training and only lightly adapted for external audiences, which often makes them clunky, overcomplicated and a poor match for the sporting workforce.
For NGBs, Active Partnerships and national sports organisations, the right LMS should be simple, engaging, cost-effective and tailored to the realities of sport. If your current system feels like more hassle than help, it may be time to rethink whether it’s really serving your learners.
If you have any questions or would like to start a conversation, please feel free to email us at [email protected].
