Editors Guidelines
Editors maintain scientific quality and ethical standards at JSEM. These guidelines outline expectations for decision making, reviewer selection, and communication with authors.
Editor Responsibilities
Editors assess submissions for scope fit, originality, and methodological rigor before inviting peer review. They balance reviewer recommendations with their own assessment to reach fair, well supported decisions.
Decision Criteria
Quality
Methods and analysis are robust.
Scope
Aligned with sports medicine aims.
Ethics
Approvals and safety documented.
Data
Availability and transparency.
Best Practices
Timelines
Secure reviewer reports promptly and communicate delays to the editorial office.
Decision Letters
Provide clear rationale and separate major from minor revisions.
Professional Recognition
Editors receive formal recognition and may be invited to lead special issues or contribute editorials.
Best Practices
Clear decision letters and timely reviewer coordination maintain consistency and trust.
Support
The editorial office provides guidance on conflicts, ethics questions, and workflow issues.
Service Expectations
Editors commit to fair, timely decisions and uphold confidentiality.
Decision Accountability
Editors should document key decision rationale and align recommendations with reviewer reports and journal standards.
Workload Balance
Accept assignments that match expertise and availability. Communicate early if workload changes to keep review timelines stable.
Communication Standards
Editors should communicate decisions respectfully and clearly, outlining key reasons and next steps.
Conflict Management
Disclose conflicts of interest and recuse when needed to protect fairness and trust in the review process.
Decision Rationale
Editors should provide concise decision rationales that reference reviewer feedback and journal standards. Clear explanations help authors respond effectively and improve the revision process.
Reviewer Pool
Suggest qualified reviewers and mentor early career experts to strengthen the reviewer network.
Service Recognition
Service letters and certificates are available for institutional reporting and promotion dossiers.
Editorial Consistency
Maintain consistent decision criteria across submissions to support fairness and author trust.
Decision Communication
Provide concise decision letters that explain key reasons and next steps. Clear communication improves author response quality.
Editorial Leadership
Editors provide leadership by upholding standards, mentoring reviewers, and promoting fair decision making. Consistent leadership strengthens the journal community and supports author trust in the review process.
Editorial Service
Consistent service supports author confidence and journal reputation.
Reviewer Support
Support reviewers with clear timelines and respond to questions promptly.
Interested in joining the editorial team?
Register to serve as an editor and help guide sports medicine research excellence.
