Author Guidelines for Manuscript Preparation

                                                                                                                                           Last revised: 23 March 2026

The journal welcomes manuscripts that demonstrate a clear and meaningful contribution to the fields of physical education, sport, and health. Submitted work should present original insights that advance current knowledge and offer relevance to academic and professional audiences. Articles are expected to provide comprehensive methodological detail that enables replicability and supports the scientific rigour required for high-quality research. Authors should present balanced and critical interpretations of their results, situating findings within existing literature while acknowledging both strengths and constraints of the study. Ethical handling of data, transparent reporting practices, and adherence to recognised publication standards are fundamental expectations for all submissions. High-level academic writing, characterised by clarity, coherence, accurate terminology, and a professional tone, is essential to ensure articles communicate effectively to an international readership.

To support strong scholarly practices, authors are encouraged to demonstrate a clear research contribution by showing what is new and why it matters in every section of the manuscript. Methodological transparency must be upheld through detailed and analytically justified procedures that allow replication. The discussion should be coherent and critical, interpreting results through comparison, extension, or challenge of existing scholarship. Academic tone and precision should guide all writing, avoiding vague or unsupported claims. Limitations must be clearly articulated, reflecting scientific maturity, honesty, and compliance with COPE standards. Finally, conclusions should provide a solid account of the study’s value, emphasising its significance and potential impact on future research, practice, or policy.

Language and Formatting Standards
Manuscripts must be written in clear, professional English. Authors are encouraged to use professional language editing if needed. Use consistent formatting, correct terminology, and coherent paragraphing.

For further guidance on article writing, please refer to Elements of style for writing scientific journal articles by Griffies et al. (2013).

Griffies, S. M., Perrie, W. A., & Hull, G. (2013). Elements of style for writing scientific journal articles. Elsevier Researcher Academy. Retrieved January 2, 2026, from https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/uploads/2017-11/Elements%20of%20Style%20for%20Writing.pdf

Article Structure

Title, author and affiliations, abstract, and keywords are presented before the main body of the manuscript. The main text follows the IMRAD structure (Introduction; Materials and Methods; Results; Discussion) and is followed by Acknowledgements (where applicable) and References.

Title
Requirements:

Anatomy of an effective academic title
  • Clear, precise, descriptive.
  • Avoid abbreviations.
  • Reflects the central variables or focus.
  • Optimised for searchability and indexing.

Example:
“Teacher Instructional Strategies and Student Engagement in Primary School Physical Education”

Clear research contribution: The title should indicate what the study adds and why it matters.
For further guidance on title writing , please refer to the following page.

 

Authors and Affiliations
Requirements:

  • Full names, institutional affiliations, and country.
  • Corresponding author indicated with an asterisk.
  • Email address for correspondence.
  • ORCID iDs encouraged for indexing accuracy.

Example sentence:
“John Smith¹*, Department of Sport Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.”

Academic tone and precision: Ensure affiliations are complete, accurate, and verifiable.

Abstract

“Although the abstract is one of the last elements of an article to be written, it is one of the first elements that will be read by your peers. You should treat your abstract as a shop window. As the contents of a shop window entice buyers to look inside, so does your abstract. It entices readers to open your article and read it.” (Foreman, n.d.).

Abstract writing structure infographic

Requirements (The abstract must emphasise what is new and important):

  • 150–250 words.
  • Includes purpose, methods, results, and key conclusion.
  • Must accurately reflect the full paper.
  • Avoid citations and abbreviations unless essential.

Example sentence:
“This study examines the predictive value of workload ratios across a competitive season using validated monitoring tools and robust statistical analyses.”

For further guidance on abstract writing, please refer to the following page.

Introduction
Requirements (The introduction must highlight novelty and relevance):

Introduction section structure infographic
  • Defines the research problem.
  • Summarises existing evidence.
  • Identifies a clear research gap.
  • States aim or hypothesis explicitly.

Example sentence:
“Despite widespread implementation of workload monitoring, limited evidence exists on its predictive accuracy for competitive performance.”

For further guidance on introduction writing, please refer to the following page.

Materials and Methods
Requirements (Methods must allow full reproducibility):

Materials and Methods section structure infographic
  • Study design clearly described.
  • Participants or data sources defined with inclusion/exclusion criteria.
  • Instruments, procedures, and protocols detailed.
  • Statistical analysis justified and replicable.
  • Ethics approval clearly stated when human/animal subjects are involved.

Example sentence:
“A mixed-effects modelling approach was applied to analyse 12 weeks of workload data collected through validated GPS devices.”

For further guidance on methods section writing, please refer to the following page.

Results
Requirements (Results must follow directly from methods and remain precise):

Results section structure infographic
  • Present findings objectively.
  • No interpretation in this section.
  • Tables and figures used effectively.
  • Statistical results reported with clarity (e.g., effect sizes, p-values, CIs).

Example sentence:
“The acute–chronic workload ratio showed a significant association with performance scores (p < 0.01).”

For further guidance on results section writing, please refer to the following page.

Discussion
Requirements (Must be interpretative, comparative, and analytical):

Discussion section structure infographic
  • Interprets findings in context of existing literature.
  • Explains implications and theoretical contribution.
  • Highlights unexpected findings where relevant.
  • Avoids repetition of numerical results.

Example sentence:
“These findings align with previous studies on training load consistency but extend current knowledge by demonstrating predictive value using stricter modelling approaches.”

For further guidance on discussion writing, please refer to the following page.

Limitations (should be addressed in the Discussion section toward the end)
Requirements (Shows scientific maturity and transparency):

  • Clearly state methodological constraints.
  • Describe how they affect interpretation.
  • Suggest directions for future research.

Example sentence:
“The limited sample size restricts generalisability, and future research should incorporate multi-team datasets.”

Conclusion
Requirements (Must emphasise impact and contribution):

Conclusion section structure infographic
  • Summarises findings in relation to study aim.
  • Highlights significance and contribution.
  • No new information presented.
  • Indicates practical or theoretical implications.

Example sentence:
“This study provides robust evidence that balanced workload ratios contribute to improved performance, offering actionable insights for training optimisation.”

For further guidance on conclusion writing, please refer to the following page.

Acknowledgements (if applicable)
Requirements:

  • Recognise only those who contributed meaningfully but do not qualify for authorship.
  • Avoid promotional or funding-related statements (those belong elsewhere).
  • Acknowledge technical assistance, data collection support, or language editing if relevant.
  • If Artificial Intelligence tools were used, authors must declare this and specify the purpose of their use (see the guidelines).

Example sentence:
“The authors thank the coaching staff for their assistance with data collection.”

References
Requirements: References must follow APA 7th edition and must be accurate, relevant, and reliable.

References section formatting and APA 7th guidance infographic
  • Use APA 7th edition consistently throughout the reference list.
  • Include DOIs in the APA format (https://doi.org/xxxx) when available.
  • Cite recent, high-quality international literature.
  • Avoid predatory or non-indexed sources.

Example sentence:
“Smith, J. (2024). Monitoring athlete performance. Journal of Sports Science, 12(3), 155–169. https://doi.org/10.1234/exampledoi”

For further guidance on reference writing, please refer to the following page.