Editorial Policy

If you would like more information about the journal, click here. If you want to know more about all the ethical policies, click here.

1. Aim and Scope

The International Journal of Racket Sports Science (IJRSS) is an international publication in English that covers all areas related to racket sports. The journal includes research in biomechanics, physiology, coaching and teaching, engineering and technology, ergonomics, sports medicine and injuries, notational analysis, nutrition, psychology, rehabilitation, youth development, as well as other scientific branches related to racket sports.

2. Publication Frecuency

Each year, the International Journal of Racket Sports Science publishes a single electronic volume, consisting of two biannual issues. The publication dates for each issue are as follows:

• No. 1 – January - June
• No. 2 – July - December

It is important to note that the receipt of a manuscript does not imply a commitment to publication by the journal.

 3. Journal Section Policy

Requirement of Originality: The journal is committed to maintaining high standards of quality and originality in the work it publishes. Therefore, only original and unpublished works will be accepted. All manuscripts must be submitted through the online submission system (OJS), strictly following the guidelines for authors detailed in both the print and online versions of the journal. These guidelines can be found in the "Submissions" section under "Guidelines for Authors."

Furthermore, as a general policy, the publication of articles by the same author in consecutive issues of the journal will not be permitted unless exceptional circumstances justify such a decision.

 4. Open Access Policy

The International Journal of Racket Sports Science (IJRSS) provides open access to its content to facilitate public research and foster greater global knowledge sharing. The journal follows the recommendations of Article 37 of the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation regarding open access dissemination, so authors retain the non-exclusive right to use their contributions for scholarly and educational purposes, including self-archiving in open access repositories.

The use of the published version of the articles (publisher's post-print version) is recommended, or, failing that, the author's post-print version, which has already been reviewed and accepted. Preprint versions may also be published.

No embargo period is imposed, allowing contributions to be made accessible as soon as possible.

 5. Article Processing and Submission Fees

The International Journal of Racket Sports Science (IJRSS) will not charge any fees for the submission or processing of articles submitted for consideration. We invite all scholars to submit their original work, knowing that in our journal they will find a space that values the exchange of ideas and scientific quality at no cost.

 6. Research Funding

Since its inception, this journal has been fully sponsored by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the University of Granada (UGR). Thanks to this support, the journal can offer free and open access to all its content, ensuring the dissemination of scientific knowledge without financial restrictions for authors or readers.

* When applicable, articles must include in a footnote at the end of the title the funding agency(ies) and the code(s) of the project(s) under which the research supporting the publication was conducted. The author uploading the article to the platform must enter this metadata in the corresponding field at the time of the proposal.

 7. Peer Review Process

The International Journal of Racket Sports Science (IJRSS) follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure the impartiality and confidentiality of each manuscript. All articles received will be sent to a minimum of two scientific reviewers selected ad hoc. These reviewers will be responsible for determining and assessing the manuscripts' originality, novelty, relevance, and methodological quality. The review reports will be submitted to the journal's Editorial Board using a specific form. At least 50% of the reviewers will be external to the editorial team and the publishing entity.

 8. Editorial Process

1. Acknowledgment of Receipt: Once the submissions are received, an email will be sent to the author as acknowledgment of receipt.
2. Initial Review: The manuscript will undergo an initial review by a member of the Editorial Board, who will verify that it complies with the journal's submission standards.
3. Peer Review: If the manuscript meets the minimum format and originality requirements, it will be sent to external scientific reviewers for review. These reviewers must issue their report within a maximum of one month.
4. Editorial Board Decision: Once all the evaluation reports are received, the Editorial Board will meet to analyze the results and decide which submissions will be accepted for publication, as well as the section in which they will be included.
5. Communication of Results: The results of the evaluation will be communicated to the authors immediately, along with any modifications suggested by the reviewers for publication.
6. Publication Proofs: The Secretary of the Editorial Board will send authors whose work has been accepted at least a PDF proof of the article. Authors must return the proof with the corresponding corrections (if any) within 15 days.

If modifications have been recommended as a condition for publication, a member of the Editorial Board will verify that these modifications have been made.

7. Final Publication: Once the authors have corrected and returned the proofs, the papers will be published on the journal's website. Authors will receive automatic notifications about the status of their manuscript through the OJS system throughout the editorial process.

Authors will be informed about the status of their manuscript through notifications and emails generated by the platform throughout the editorial process.

 9. Anti-Plagiarism Policy

To ensure the originality of the papers, the International Journal of Racket Sports Science (IJRSS) will submit all received articles to anti-plagiarism software before beginning the peer review process. Any submission that exhibits plagiarism or scientific fraud will be rejected during the preliminary review or at any stage of the editorial process.

 10. Digital Preservation Policy

The journal follows the following digital preservation strategies in collaboration with the University of Granada Press and through the OJS system:

Daily Backup: The EUG makes backup copies every 24 hours to preserve and archive the content, allowing for its recovery in case of loss.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): Each article receives a DOI managed by Crossref, ensuring its persistent identification and avoiding localization problems due to URL changes.

PKP Preservation Network (PN): Through OJS, MEAH-AI employs the PKP Preservation Network, which digitally archives articles in LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) to ensure long-term preservation.

LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe): The journal supports LOCKSS to ensure permanent archiving. Archived articles can be consulted in the LOCKSS Editorial Manifesto.

Database Indexing: MEAH-AI is indexed in several databases, ensuring the preservation and permanent access to its content.

 11. Interoperability Protocols

OAI-PMH Interoperability Protocol: The journal implements the OAI-PMH protocol to facilitate access and transfer of its content through https://revistaseug.ugr.es/index.php/IJRSS/oai.

 12. Copyright and Licenses

Authors retain the copyright of their work and grant the journal the right of first publication. Furthermore, articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY), which allows others to share the work provided they acknowledge authorship and indicate its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are free to enter into additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of their work. This includes, for example, the possibility of archiving the work in an institutional repository or publishing it in a book, provided that its initial publication in this journal is acknowledged.

The journal is not responsible for the opinions expressed by the authors in their work.

 13. Article Retraction and Correction Policy

In the event of significant errors or scientific misconduct, the International Journal of Racket Sports Science (IJRSS) has a procedure for article retraction and correction, following COPE guidelines to ensure transparency and editorial rigor.

 14. Self-Publishing and Repository Deposit Policy

Authors are permitted and encouraged to electronically disseminate the published version of their work (publisher's post-print version) or, alternatively, the author's post-print version that has already been reviewed and accepted. This practice can facilitate productive exchanges and contribute to earlier and broader citation of published work.

 15. Conflicts of Interest

All authors must declare any conflicts of interest when submitting their manuscript. This includes, but is not limited to, financial relationships, personal relationships, or participation in related studies. A declaration indicating whether any conflicts of interest exist must be included in the manuscript.

Reviewers must also declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review of a manuscript. If a reviewer has a conflict of interest, they must decline the review.

The editorial board will evaluate declarations of conflicts of interest and make decisions regarding the continuation of the review and publication process. Our journal is committed to maintaining trust in peer review and the integrity of the publication process. Any situation that compromises this integrity will be handled in accordance with our policies.

Failure to declare a conflict of interest may result in the retraction of the article once published, or in the revision of the manuscript if the omission is discovered during the review process.

 16. Code of Ethics

This journal adheres to rigorous ethical standards for the publication of manuscripts and expresses its commitment to preventing misconduct in all its editorial activities. You can consult the full code of ethics at the following link: Code of Ethics.