Manuscript Preparation
IJES utilizes a double-blind review process. A template has been provided to assist authors prior to submission. A separate cover letter and checklist must be uploaded, with identifying information (found here). When completing the checklist, please include the line numbers within the manuscript where each item can be found (for the applicable items). Manuscripts that do not include the cover letter and checklist will be unsubmitted. Additionally, manuscripts that do not contain all items required by the checklist will be unsubmitted. Authors will be encouraged to resubmit manuscripts.
Submission Information
In this journal, we encourage contributors to engage in open and diverse discourse with minimal formatting guidelines at the time of submission, allowing for a free-flowing exchange of ideas and insights. Your submissions should include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference list, adhering to the established academic citation style described later on this page.
While the Journal is international in nature, only submissions in English will be reviewable. If accepted, a copy of the revised manuscript in another language may be published as an addendum along with the English version; however page numbers will not be assigned to this addendum.
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Original Research and Brief Reports should include the following in order:
1. Title
- Title – should appropriately and concisely describe the overall study. Consider a title that will make electronic retrieval of the article both sensitive and specific.
2. Abstract and Keywords
Authors must submit an unstructured abstract of no more than 250 words, written as a single paragraph without section headings or tags (e.g., "Background:"). The abstract should clearly and concisely summarize the study, including its context, purpose, basic procedures, main findings, and principal conclusions.
Additionally, include 3–10 keywords or short phrases on a separate line. These should not duplicate words or phrases found in the title or abstract and are intended to assist indexers in cross-referencing your article.
3. Introduction
- This section explains the context or background for the study. While a review of literature is not appropriate here, enough detail must be provided for readers to understand the reason for conducting the experimentation. Include a statement of purpose and statement of hypothesis.
4. Methods
This section details the protocol used to collect study data.
Authors must include a statement in their manuscript detailing the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or exemption process for the study. This statement should specify the name of the approving institution, the IRB protocol number (if applicable), and a justification for the exemption if one was granted. Studies involving human participants must explicitly confirm compliance with ethical standards and informed consent procedures. Manuscripts without a clear ethics statement may be returned for revision or rejected.
The Methods section should include only the following subheadings:
- Participants:
- Provide a description of inclusion and exclusion criteria used with participants. Study participants have a right to privacy that should not be violated without informed consent. Experiments involving the use of human participants must follow procedures in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration. Experimentation involving the use of animals must indicate the guide for care and use that was followed.
- The editors will look for either an (1) a priori power analysis or (2) a scientific rationale for the number of participants tested that is accompanied by a rationale for why a power analysis could not be conducted. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please reference the editorial published in volume 13(1) 1-5. Power analysis should be accompanied by a citation that justifies the numbers included in the evaluation.
- Each author must agree that they have conformed to the ethical standards contained in the publication "Ethical Issues Relating to Scientific Discovery in Exercise Science." To acknowledge this, it is required that the work is referred to in this section using the statement "This research was carried out fully in accordance with the ethical standards of the International Journal of Exercise Science" along with the following reference: Navalta JW, Stone WJ, Lyons TS. Ethical issues relating to scientific discovery in exercise science. Int J Exerc Sci. 2019;12(1):1-8.
- Protocol:
- This section should include the methodology, equipment or apparatus (provide manufacturer name and address in parentheses), and procedures in adequate detail to allow other investigators to replicate the results.
- Statistical Analysis:
- Statistical methods should be described in enough detail to allow a knowledgeable reader with access the original data to verify the reported results. Include the computer software used and the alpha-level used for the determination of significance. Also include an interpretation of effect size or secondary measure accompanying reported results.
5. Results
- The results should be reported in a logical sequence, giving the main findings first. The use of descriptive text, tables, and figures should be unique and not repeat information. Tables and figures should be restricted to those needed to explain the argument of the paper. Graphs should be used as an alternative to tables with many entries.
All tables and figures included in the manuscript must be fully interpretable on their own, without requiring reference to the main text. Each should include a clear, descriptive title and, where necessary, concise legends or footnotes to explain abbreviations, symbols, or data presentation methods. Ensure that all relevant details needed for understanding the content are provided directly within the table or figure.
6. Discussion
- This section emphasizes new and important aspects generated from the study. Do not simply repeat information previously given in the Introduction and/or the Results sections. It may be helpful to begin the Discussion with a summary of the main findings of the study, and then suggest potential mechanisms or explanations, compare and/or contrast the results with previous research, and provide the implications of the findings for future research. Be careful not to make unqualified statements that are not adequately supported by the study data.
7. Acknowledgements
- Include funding sources or sources of support, disclaimers, or contributions that do not warrant authorship.
Consider providing a land acknowledgement as a way of showing respect for the Indigenous Communities with whom the work was performed, or whose historic land was taken, now being used by academic institutions and its employees. The National Environmental Education Foundation provides guidance on creating a land acknowledgement. The process involves first identifying the traditional inhabitants of the land at https://native-land.ca. Next, while there is no precise language recommendation, an articulation of acknowledgement is appropriate (see the example below). Finally, once the statement has been created, include the acknowledgement in the manuscript.
Example land acknowledgement: “We respectfully acknowledge that the International Journal of Exercise Science, and Western Kentucky University, are headquartered and located on the ancestral land of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) people.”
8. References
- References and in-text citations should be in AMA style. Please ensure that cited references are characterized appropriately and not misrepresented.
- Journal Articles
- Reeves R, Hicks O, Navalta J. The relationship between upper arm anthropometrical measures and vertical jump displacement. Int J Exerc Sci. 2008;1(1):22-29. doi:10.70252/fjtf9033.
- Books
Books and websites are discouraged as primary references. However, if absolutely necessary, here is the format for each:
- Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Elsevier Science; 2013.
- Websites
- Native land digital. October 8, 2021. Accessed September 25, 2024. https://native-land.ca/.
Citation Managers
We have found the following citation managers available for use online. However, the editors did not create these resources so their use should be cautiously implemented. Authors are ultimately responsible for the content of their references.
- To format your manuscript with EndNote Click Here
- To format your manuscript with Zotero Click Here or search for AMA to locate the style and add it to your account.
9. Tables and Figures
- Include tables and figures in appropriate places within the body of the text (do not list each separately at the end of the manuscript). Each table and figure must be cited in the text. Number tables consecutively in the order in which they appear in the text. Provide a brief but descriptive title at the top of each table, and explanatory footnotes at the bottom for all nonstandard abbreviations. Tables must be presented in portrait mode only and be configured so that it does not span more that one page. Tables with excessive content must be broken into to smaller quantities or non-essential data should be removed.
- Figures should be included in a common electronic format that is editable by the Editors (e.g., Microsoft linked objects). Number figures consecutively in the order in which they appear in the text. Provide a descriptive figure caption at the bottom of each figure.
- As the IJES is exclusively published online, authors are strongly encouraged to incorporate color into tables and graphs and include color photographs where appropriate to enhance visual clarity and presentation.
When creating tables and figures for scholarly work, focus on clarity, simplicity, and accessibility. Avoid overly complex designs and ensure each visual communicates a single, clear message. Use high-contrast color combinations, such as black text on a white background, and avoid relying solely on color to differentiate elements. Instead, use patterns or labels to enhance accessibility for readers with color vision deficiencies. Text should be legible, with a recommended size of 10–12 points for tables and larger labels for figures. Consistency is key—use the same fonts, colors, and formatting styles throughout.
For tables, provide concise, descriptive titles above and use footnotes or legends below to explain abbreviations or symbols. Minimize borders and gridlines, relying on spacing for clarity, and align numerical data to the right or by decimal points while keeping text left-aligned. In figures, ensure axes are clearly labeled with units of measurement and provide descriptive titles and legends. Choose graph types that best represent your data, avoiding overly decorative styles. Limit the amount of data in each figure to prevent overcrowding and use annotations like arrows or labels to highlight key points.
Although IJES generally follows AMA guidelines, this resource offered by the APA gives great guidance on table and figure generation. APA Tables and Figures
10. Conflict of Interest Notification
- Inappropriate influences from financial or personal relationships constitute a conflict of interest. Authors desiring to submit a manuscript to be considered for review in the Journal must disclose all relationships that could be viewed as presenting a potential conflict of interest in their cover letter.