Data archiving is essential for sports medicine. JSEM permits deposition in disciplinary, institutional, or general repositories and requires a clear data availability statement for every submission. For sensitive athlete or patient data, controlled access options should be described.

Include a data availability statement that identifies the repository, access URL, and license terms. Provide persistent identifiers such as DOIs and describe any access restrictions. For athlete data, document de identification procedures and access conditions.

Cite datasets in the reference list with DOIs and version details. This supports attribution, reuse, and data level impact tracking.

For sensitive participant data, use de identified datasets and controlled access repositories. Document consent limitations and access conditions.

Select repositories that provide persistent identifiers, support updates, and allow clear metadata. Consistent naming improves long term usability.

Include a README file and a data dictionary that explains variables, measurement units, and scoring methods. Clear documentation improves reproducibility.

Temporary embargoes may be permitted when justified by ongoing studies or privacy concerns. Specify the embargo duration and release conditions in the data statement.

Perform basic validation before archiving, including variable range checks and file integrity verification. Document any transformations to support secondary analysis.

Provide contact details and expected response times for data access requests. If access requires approval, describe the review process and any required agreements.

If your study includes a data management plan, summarize how data were stored, cleaned, and documented. Clear planning improves long term reuse.

Temporary embargoes may be permitted when justified by ongoing studies or privacy concerns. Specify embargo duration and release conditions in the data statement.

Use formal data citations with authors, title, repository, year, version, and DOI. Consistent citations improve attribution and reuse tracking.

For controlled access datasets, describe data use agreements and approval requirements. Clear access steps reduce reviewer queries and support responsible sharing.

Remove direct identifiers and limit indirect identifiers when athlete or patient data are sensitive. Document consent limitations and describe how data access is controlled. Clear privacy protections support ethical sharing and reviewer confidence.

If full sharing is not possible, provide a clear pathway for qualified access requests.

Select repositories that offer persistent identifiers, versioning, and clear licensing options. Provide metadata that includes study context, instruments, and variable definitions. Strong metadata improves discoverability and long term usability of sports medicine datasets.

Use consistent file names and include a README to describe variables and units. This improves reuse and interpretation.

Document dataset versions and update logs if data are revised. Version clarity supports accurate citation.

Apply an appropriate data license that aligns with consent limitations and institutional policies.

Deposit datasets before acceptance when possible and include accession numbers in the manuscript. Early archiving speeds editorial checks.

Apply data licenses that align with consent and institutional policy. Clear licensing supports responsible reuse and citation.

Choose repositories with long term preservation policies and stable identifiers. Provide metadata that explains study context, instruments, and variable definitions so secondary users can interpret data correctly. Strong preservation practices support ongoing citation and clinical translation.

If datasets are updated, document version changes and keep previous versions accessible for reproducibility.

Use open, reusable formats such as CSV or TXT for tabular data.