Proposed Special Issue
JSEM welcomes proposals for special issues that define emerging sports medicine research, highlight clinical innovation, or integrate performance science with rehabilitation.
Proposal Overview
Successful proposals present a focused theme, clear rationale, and a realistic plan for attracting high quality submissions. Guest editors should demonstrate subject expertise and the ability to manage peer review timelines in collaboration with the JSEM editorial office.
Ideal Themes
Injury Prevention
New insights in screening and training models.
Performance Analytics
Wearables, data science, and load monitoring.
Rehabilitation
Return to play and recovery pathways.
Exercise Medicine
Clinical exercise interventions and outcomes.
Proposal Steps
Step 1
Define scope
- Define theme and scope
- Outline key research questions
- Identify potential contributors
Step 2
Submit plan
- Provide guest editor details
- Submit timeline and milestones
- Explain expected impact
Step 3
Launch issue
- Editorial review and feedback
- Finalize scope and call for papers
- Launch with JSEM support
Review Criteria
Guest Editor Role
Coordinate peer review, invite reviewers, and ensure decisions align with journal standards.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals are assessed on scientific relevance, novelty, submission volume, and editorial capacity.
Proposal Strength
Strong proposals include a focused scope, realistic submission timeline, and committed guest editors. Outline outreach plans to attract high quality submissions.
Editorial Readiness
Guest editors should identify reviewer pools early to maintain timelines and consistent review standards.
Impact and Visibility
Explain how the issue advances sports medicine practice, athletic performance, or injury prevention policy.
Timeline Planning
Define milestones for call for papers, submission deadlines, review completion, and publication. A clear schedule supports consistent issue delivery.
Promotion Plan
Include outreach plans such as conference announcements, society newsletters, or targeted invitations to attract strong submissions.
Guest Editor Commitments
Guest editors should commit to timely decisions, clear communication, and adherence to JSEM ethical standards. Consistent oversight supports issue quality.
Reviewer Capacity
Identify a sufficient reviewer pool before launch. Adequate reviewer capacity protects timelines and maintains review rigor.
Promotion and Timelines
Define a realistic timeline for submissions, review, and publication and communicate it clearly to contributors. Promotion through conferences, professional societies, and targeted invitations improves submission quality and volume. A strong plan helps the issue meet publication goals without sacrificing rigor.
Submission Volume
Estimate a realistic submission volume and plan a backup outreach strategy if needed.
Guest Editor Team
Identify co editors and reviewer pools to manage workload and maintain review quality.
Scope Definition
A concise scope statement helps authors self select and improves submission quality. Clear boundaries reduce off topic submissions.
Proposal Review
The editorial office reviews proposals for scope, feasibility, and reviewer capacity. Strong planning improves approval rates.
Guest Editor Responsibilities
Guest editors coordinate reviewer selection, manage timelines, and ensure decisions align with JSEM standards. Clear division of responsibilities and consistent communication with the editorial office support a smooth workflow and high quality issue outcomes.
Proposals that demonstrate editorial capacity and reviewer availability are more likely to be approved.
Ready to propose a special issue?
Send your proposal outline and guest editor details to the editorial office.
