Publication Ethics

The following statements are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and internationally recognized standards for ethical publishing.

The Journal of Sports Coaching and Performance Education (JSCPE) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. The journal expects editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher to adhere to ethical principles throughout the publication process.

Authors submitting manuscripts to JSCPE confirm that their work is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors also certify that the manuscript does not contain plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, and that all sources have been appropriately acknowledged. Any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation must be disclosed at the time of submission.

Duties of Editors

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts will be published in JSCPE. Editorial decisions are based on the manuscript's originality, scientific quality, relevance to the journal's scope, and the recommendations of reviewers. Editors comply with applicable legal requirements regarding copyright, plagiarism, and libel.

Peer Review Process

Editors ensure that every submitted manuscript undergoes an initial editorial assessment to evaluate its suitability for the journal and compliance with submission requirements. Manuscripts that pass the preliminary screening are subjected to a double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers. Editorial decisions are made based on reviewers' recommendations and the academic merit of the manuscript.

Fairness

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religious belief, institutional affiliation, or political philosophy.

Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and must not disclose any information to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial advisers, or the publisher as appropriate.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for their own research and should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer reviewers assist editors in making publication decisions and help authors improve the quality of their manuscripts through constructive and objective feedback.

Promptness

Reviewers who are unable to complete the review within the agreed timeframe or who feel unqualified to review a manuscript should promptly inform the editor so that another reviewer can be assigned.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without authorization from the editor.

Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively, professionally, and respectfully. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should provide clear comments supported by reasoned arguments.

Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and notify the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the submitted manuscript and other published works.

Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from personal, professional, institutional, or financial relationships.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors should present an accurate, honest, and complete account of the research performed. Manuscripts should contain sufficient detail and references to enable others to verify or replicate the work where appropriate.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original. Any use of the work, data, or words of others must be properly cited. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is considered unethical and is unacceptable.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or publish substantially the same research in multiple journals without appropriate justification.

Data Availability

Authors may be requested to provide the underlying research data for editorial review and should retain these data for a reasonable period after publication.

Authorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the study. All contributors who meet the authorship criteria should be listed as authors, while others who contributed to the research should be acknowledged appropriately.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the interpretation of their research. Sources of research funding should also be clearly identified.

Correction of Errors

If authors discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obligated to notify the editor promptly and cooperate in correcting or retracting the publication when necessary.

Publisher's Responsibilities

The publisher supports the editorial team in maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and is committed to ensuring that editorial decisions remain independent from commercial interests. The publisher works closely with editors to address allegations of research misconduct, publication malpractice, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or ethical violations in accordance with the COPE Core Practices.

Publication Malpractice Statement

JSCPE has zero tolerance for publication malpractice. Any manuscript found to contain plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, duplicate publication, citation manipulation, or other forms of unethical conduct will be rejected or retracted if already published. Allegations of ethical misconduct will be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.