Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

The International Journal of Strength and Conditioning (IJSC) welcomes high-quality, original submissions from researchers and practitioners in the field of strength and conditioning. These guidelines provide comprehensive instructions to ensure all manuscripts meet the journal’s standards for quality, transparency, and ethical integrity.

General Submission Requirements

All submissions must adhere to the following general requirements:

  1. Originality:
    Manuscripts must not have been published or be under consideration elsewhere. Authors must disclose if the manuscript or any portion has been posted as a preprint.

  2. Language:
    Submissions must be written in clear, concise, and professional English. Authors are encouraged to have their manuscripts proofread or edited if necessary.

  3. Formatting:

    • Use a standard 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman) with single spacing.
    • References must follow a consistent and recognised style for citations and bibliographies.

  4. File Format:
    Submit manuscripts in OpenOffice (.odt), Microsoft Word (.docx), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). PDFs are not accepted as the primary submission file.

  5. Figures and Tables:
    Embed illustrations, figures, and tables within the manuscript text where referenced. Ensure high resolution and proper labeling. The editorial team may request separate files for large or detailed images.

  6. Contact Information:
    For assistance, email the editorial office at journal@iusca.org.

Manuscript Types

The IJSC accepts a variety of manuscript types:

  • Original Research Articles: 2,000–4,000 words, structured with Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
  • Brief Reports: Up to 2,000 words, presenting preliminary or innovative findings.
  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Comprehensive syntheses of research.
  • Narrative Reviews: Descriptive reviews of emerging topics.
  • Case Studies: Detailed intervention reports, including participant and methodology details.
  • Commentaries: Short discussions expanding upon recent publications.
  • Book Reviews: 500–2,000 words evaluating books relevant to strength and conditioning.
  • Ideas and Innovations: Proposals of novel concepts or methodologies.
  • Corrigenda: Corrections to previously published articles.

For more details, refer to the Manuscript Types page.

Submission Process

Manuscripts must be submitted through the IJSC’s online system:
https://journal.iusca.org/index.php/Journal/submit

Steps to Submit:

  1. Create an account or log in to the submission portal.
  2. Complete the submission form, uploading the manuscript and any supporting files.
  3. Include the following required documents:
    • Manuscript file prepared according to guidelines.
    • Title page with author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact.
    • Cover letter detailing the manuscript's significance.
    • Data availability statement and ethics approval documentation, if applicable.

Peer Review

The IJSC employs a rigorous open peer review process to ensure transparency and quality:

  • Manuscripts are reviewed by at least two subject-matter experts.
  • Authors and reviewers are aware of each other’s identities, fostering accountability and constructive dialogue.
  • The process includes detailed feedback for authors to improve their work.

For more information, visit the Peer Review Process page.

Ethical Standards

The IJSC adheres to the COPE Core Practices. Authors must:

  • Disclose Conflicts of Interest: Provide a statement detailing any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the work.
  • Obtain Ethics Approval: Include evidence of ethical approval for studies involving human or animal participants.
  • Ensure Data Transparency: Provide a data availability statement and comply with the journal’s Data Sharing Policy.
  • Our Publication Ethics policies can be found here: Publication Ethics

Preprints

The journal accepts manuscripts that have been posted on preprint servers, such as:

Authors must disclose preprint versions during submission, and links to final publications will be added upon acceptance.

Licensing

All articles are published under the CC BY 4.0 License, which allows unrestricted sharing and adaptation with proper attribution.

Revisions and Resubmissions

  • Revised manuscripts must address all reviewer and editor comments.
  • Authors must provide a detailed cover letter outlining changes made in response to feedback.
  • Revised submissions are subject to additional review before final acceptance.

Post-Publication Policies

  • Corrections: Errors identified after publication may be corrected through a corrigendum or erratum.
  • Updates: Authors can submit updates or addenda to reflect new findings.

Refer to the Post-Publication Policies for more information.

Support for Authors

For any questions or assistance during the submission process, contact the IJSC editorial office at:
journal@iusca.org