Focus and Scope

Bima Loka: Journal of Physical Education is dedicated to publishing scholarly work that advances the theory, research, and practice of physical education across all levels of formal education. The journal welcomes contributions from researchers, educators, and practitioners whose work addresses the scientific, pedagogical, and applied dimensions of physical education.

1. Focus

The primary focus of Bima Loka is physical education in formal educational settings — understood broadly as the organized, curriculum-based teaching and learning of physical movement, sport, health, and recreation within schools and educational institutions. The journal prioritizes research that is grounded in real educational contexts, engages with current challenges in physical education theory and practice, and produces knowledge that is both academically rigorous and practically meaningful. The journal places particular emphasis on physical education within the Indonesian educational context — including the dynamics of ongoing national curriculum reform, regional diversity in educational infrastructure, and the development of physical education as a professional academic discipline in Indonesia. At the same time, the journal actively engages with international scholarship and welcomes comparative, cross-national, and globally framed research.

2. Scope of Topics

The journal accepts manuscripts addressing the following topic areas, across all educational levels from primary school to postgraduate: Topic Area Examples Curriculum & Policy Physical education curriculum design and reform, national and institutional policy, curriculum implementation studies, Pedagogy & Learning Teaching models and strategies, instructional media and technology, student motivation and engagement, learning outcomes in physical education Motor Development & Fitness Motor learning and skill acquisition, physical fitness assessment, fundamental movement skills, sport skill development in educational settings Health & School Wellbeing Physical activity promotion, school health programs, nutrition and physical activity, student health behavior, sedentary behavior interventions Adapted Physical Education Inclusive physical education, physical education for students with disabilities, adaptive sport in schools, universal design for learning in physical education Assessment & Evaluation Assessment tools and instruments in physical education, fitness testing, learning outcome evaluation, program evaluation Teacher Development Pre-service and in-service teacher education, teacher competence and professionalism, reflective practice, professional learning communities Sport in Education School sport programs, extracurricular sport activities, sport pedagogy, talent identification in educational contexts Technology & Innovation Digital media and e-learning in physical education, wearable technology, gamification, audiovisual learning tools Theoretical & Conceptual Studies Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, conceptual frameworks, philosophical and theoretical perspectives on physical education

3. Types of Articles Accepted

The journal accepts the following types of manuscripts: Original Research Articles — empirical studies reporting new findings from quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research Conceptual Papers — theory-driven manuscripts that develop new frameworks, models, or perspectives without necessarily reporting new empirical data Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses — comprehensive, methodologically rigorous reviews of existing literature on a specific topic Evidence-Based Practice Studies — studies that translate research findings into practical recommendations for physical education teachers and practitioners

4. Recurring Themes in Published Articles

Based on the journal's publication history, the following themes have consistently appeared across published volumes, reflecting the journal's established academic identity: Effectiveness of instructional models and learning media in physical education (audiovisual, cooperative learning, project-based learning) Motor skill development and physical fitness levels of school-age students Student health behavior, nutrition, and physical activity patterns Implementation and evaluation of physical education curricula in Indonesian schools Sport skill learning outcomes across different educational levels Assessment and measurement in physical education Adapted physical education and inclusive learning environments

5. Out of Scope

To maintain a clear and coherent academic identity, the journal does not accept manuscripts in the following areas: High-performance sport and elite athlete training outside educational contexts Clinical sports medicine, physiotherapy, or rehabilitation (unless directly applied to physical education settings) General public health studies not connected to physical education or school settings Sports management, sports business, or sports marketing Exercise science studies with no connection to educational or pedagogical contexts Manuscripts that fall outside the journal's scope will be desk-rejected without peer review.

For submission requirements, see our Author Guidelines. For questions about scope suitability, contact bimaloka@unesa.ac.id.