Author Guidelines
The International Journal of Sport and Health Sciences (IJSHS) welcomes high-quality, original manuscripts that advance knowledge in sport sciences, physical health, and psychological well-being. Authors are required to carefully follow the guidelines below to facilitate an efficient peer review and publication process.
1. Types of Manuscripts and Length Requirements
IJSHS considers the following types of manuscripts. The recommended word limits exclude references, tables, and figures unless otherwise stated.
Original Research Articles: 5,000–8,000 words
Review Articles: 6,000–10,000 words
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: 6,000–10,000 words
Bibliometric and Scientometric Studies: 5,000–8,000 words
Theoretical and Conceptual Papers: 4,000–7,000 words
Methodological and Applied Studies: 4,000–7,000 words
Manuscripts that substantially exceed these limits may be returned to authors prior to peer review.
2. Scope and Relevance
All submissions must align with the journal’s Aims and Scope and demonstrate clear relevance to sport sciences and health sciences, including physical health, mental health, and psychological well-being. Interdisciplinary research integrating sport, exercise, psychology, public health, rehabilitation, and related fields is particularly encouraged.
3. Language and Style
Manuscripts may be written in either British English or American English. Authors must use one variety of English consistently throughout the manuscript. Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to seek professional language editing prior to submission. Writing should be clear, concise, and academic, and unnecessary jargon should be avoided.
4. Manuscript Preparation
Manuscripts should be prepared using a standard word processor such as Microsoft Word.
Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
Line spacing: Double-spaced
Margins: At least 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides
Page numbers: Required
Manuscripts should generally be organized as follows:
Title page
Abstract and keywords
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgements (if applicable)
Funding statement
Conflict of interest statement
References
Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively and cited in the text.
5. Abstract and Keywords
The abstract must provide a concise summary of the study, including the research purpose, methods, key findings, and conclusions. The abstract must not exceed 250 words. Authors should provide three to six keywords that accurately reflect the content of the manuscript.
6. Ethical Considerations
Research involving human participants or animals must comply with relevant ethical standards and regulations. Authors should indicate whether ethical approval was obtained from an appropriate ethics committee and confirm that informed consent was secured where applicable. All submissions must adhere to the journal’s Publication Ethics and Plagiarism Policy.
7. Authorship and Contributions
Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, data collection or analysis, and manuscript preparation. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
8. Conflicts of Interest and Funding
Authors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research. All sources of financial support or funding must be clearly stated.
9. Peer Review Process
All manuscripts submitted to IJSHS undergo an initial editorial screening followed by a double-blind peer review process. Further details are available on the journal’s Peer Review Process page.
10. Open Access and Copyright
IJSHS is a fully open-access journal. Authors retain copyright of their work, which is published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). Further details are provided in the journal’s Open Access Policy and Copyright and Licensing pages.
11. Reference Style (APA 7th Edition)
All references must be formatted according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition).
In-text citation examples:
One author: (Bailey, 2020)
Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2021)
Three or more authors: (Wang et al., 2022)
Direct quotation: (Brown, 2019, p. 45)
Reference list examples:
Bailey, R. (2020). Sport, physical activity and mental health in young people. Journal of Sport and Health Sciences, 9(3), 199–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2020.02.004
Eime, R. M., Young, J. A., Harvey, J. T., Charity, M. J., & Payne, W. R. (2013). A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10, Article 135. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-135
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
Dishman, R. K. (2016). Physical activity and mental health. In K. J. A. Petrie & J. H. Weinman (Eds.), Perceptions of health and illness (pp. 305–320). Routledge.
12. Submission Process
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal’s online submission system. Authors should ensure that all required metadata are accurately completed during submission.