Instructions for Authors (revised Feb 4, 2013)
Editorial Mission
Strength and Conditioning Journal is the professional journal for strength coaches, personal trainers, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and other health professionals working in the strength and conditioning field. The journal's goal is to publish articles that combine the practical applications of previously published peer-reviewed research findings and the knowledge of experienced professionals. This mission includes integrating these two sources of knowledge, providing practitioners with the most accurate information available, and providing a forum for the exchange of information between the many disciplines involved in strength and conditioning.
Editorial Scope
Each issue of Strength and Conditioning Journal features articles relevant to the field of strength and conditioning, as well as columns that provide thought-provoking accounts of issues in the strength and conditioning field. Strength and Conditioning Journal publishes 1) topical review papers from the field of strength and conditioning and related fields; 2) papers evaluating the methods and procedures employed to improve strength and conditioning; 3) papers discussing clinical observations and scientific analysis of activities in the field; 4) analysis of philosophical, ethical, and social aspects of the field; and 5) other topical manuscripts related to the field. Note that all manuscripts, when appropriate, should provide practical applications for strength and conditioning practitioners and clinicians. Articles are generally 2,000-3,000 words and should focus on a specific topic relevant to our field. Review articles are generally 3,000-5,000 words and should provide a balanced review of a well-researched topic in our field with application to practitioners.
The columns that are open to outside submission include: Bridging the Gap, One-On-One, Rehab and Flexibility Tips, Special Populations, and Exercise Techniques. Columns should be approximately 1,500 to 3,500 words and should focus on topics the practitioner can put to immediate practical use. In keeping with best practices in the evidence-based field of strength and conditioning, columns should be referenced appropriately.
Electronic Manuscript Submission
Authors should submit manuscripts to the Strength and Conditioning Journal Editorial Manager web site (http://scj.edmgr.com). Separate all table and figure files from the text. The following formats are accepted for text: Microsoft Word (.doc), Corel WordPerfect (.wpd), Microsoft Rich Text Format (.rtf), and ASCII Text (.txt). Table files may be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc). Figure files will be accepted if they are in one of the following formats: Tagged Image File Format (.tif), Encapsulated PostScript (.eps), Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt).
Send email correspondence (not manuscripts, letters to the editor, Model Release forms, or Copyright Release forms) for the Editor in Chief to:
T. Jeff Chandler, Editor in Chief (jchandler@jsu.edu)
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL
After authors have been notified that their submission has been Accepted for Publication, authors can submit a Video Abstract online at this site along with the final revised version of the manuscript. Guidelines for preparation of the Video Abstract can be found here – http://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/Documents/LWW_Toolkit_-_How_to_Create_a_Video_Abstract.pdf.
Format of Manuscripts
The manuscript should be divided into “non-blinded” and “blinded” sections for electronic submission. The blinded section should not identify the authors in any way.
Non-Blinded Title page and Author Materials
The “non-blinded title page” of the manuscript should include the title, full name of the author(s), academic degrees, positions, and institutional or organizational affiliations. The corresponding author's address, telephone number, email address, and fax number should be given.
The “non-blinded section” should contain a cover page with complete author contact information, the “” for each author, and author “headshot” photos.
SAMPLE “Current Position”: W. Ben Smith is Professor and Director of the Human Performance Lab at National University.
Author “headshot” photos should be submitted in the non-blinded section. Reviewers will not have access to the non-blinded section.
Blinded Manuscript and Author Materials
The blinded manuscript should contain a blinded title page (without author contact information), key words, abstract, text, table and figure captions (if applicable), and references. These parts of the blinded manuscript should be submitted in one text file. Tables and figures are submitted separately. For articles and review articles, the blinded title page should also list five or six key words or short phrases that will assist indexers in cross-indexing the article. Key words may come from the title as well as the body of the article.
Abstract
The article or column should include an abstract for indexing purposes. Column lead abstracts should be no more than 75 words, and article abstracts should be no more than 100 words. The abstract is used to index the manuscript using electronic databases. 
Video Abstract
After an article has been accepted for publication, authors can prepare a video abstract and submit this digital file along with the final draft of the manuscript. Guidelines for preparation of the video abstract, along with links to sample video abstracts, can be found here – http://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/Documents/LWW_Toolkit_-_How_to_Create_a_Video_Abstract.pdf. For sample video abstracts, please visit the Strength and Conditioning Journal video gallery at http://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/Pages/videogallery.aspx.
Text
A simple, straightforward writing style is most effective for articles and columns submitted to the journal. Priority will be given to articles that have useful practical information directly applicable to the field of strength and conditioning presented in a concise, logical, and clear manner.
In-Text Citations
Use in-text citations to give credit to non-academic sources of information used in your manuscript. For instance, if you cite information published in the New York Times, use in-text citations and do not put the New York Times in your reference list. Create a reference list for your paper and use a reference for all academic sources of information used in your manuscript.
Example: In a July 13, 2010 New York Times interview, John H. Smith stated that agility was the most important of all athletic attributes.
References
Articles and columns published in Strength and Conditioning Journal should be appropriately referenced. When citing research results, authors should use the original published research paper as their reference and not a book or review article that discusses the research. Accuracy of the references is the responsibility of the authors. Avoid references to personal communications, non-professional for-profit websites, unpublished abstracts, unpublished presentations, and unpublished data. Referenced web pages should meet the following criteria: 1. refereed online journal, 2. refereed journal article on CD-ROM, 3. government resource website, 4. website for major nonprofit professional organization such as: NSCA, ACSM, NATA, etc. All references should be alphabetized by the last name of the lead author. Numbers should then be assigned to each reference. Parenthetical numbers in the text [(1); (4, 5); (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10)] should correspond to the numbered alphabetized reference list. Each reference listed must be cited in the text. Do not use et al. in the reference list. List all authors. Multiple texts by the same authors are listed chronologically, then alphabetically. Please double check all references to ensure that they fit the criteria for inclusion as a reference, contain correct information including page numbers, and are in the correct order.
EndNote Users: The Strength & Conditioning Journal reference style may be downloaded for use in the End Note application: ftp://support.isiresearchsoft.com/pub/pc/styles/endnote4/Strength Conditioning J.ens
Sample reference types follow:
Book
Page numbers are required to reference specific text from a book. References to entire books without page numbers are not permitted.
1. Davis, MD. Game Theory. Minneola, NY: Dover, 45 – 54, 1997.
NOTE: If an author has more than one reference to the same book, the page numbers to each reference should be listed in order of appearance in the text. A book should be listed in the reference list only once.
Book with Editor.
For a single editor, use ed. For multiple editors, use eds.
2. Smith, PE, Jones, CT, eds. Muscular injuries. In: ACSM Manual for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 10th ed. New York, NY: McGraw, 67 – 80, 2001.
Book with Translator
For translators, use trans.
3. Vorobyev, AN. A Textbook on Weightlifting. Brice, WJ, trans. Budapest, Hungary: International Weightlifting Federation, 172 – 242, 1978.
NOTE: If the reference is to an edited book, references should be to the CHAPTER AUTHOR and alphabetized according to the first chapter author’s last name.
Chapter of a Book
4. Opanzowski, B, Lukaszweska, J, Sienicka, M, and Furdal, S. Lactic acid removal, changes in acid-base balance and kinetics of growth hormone at rest and during recovery exercises. In: International Perspectives in Exercise Physiology. Terjung, R, ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 98 – 120, 1990.
Journal Article
5. Borg, G. Psychophysical basis of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:363 – 367, 1982.
Report
6. Finigan, M. The 1994 Oregon Public School Drug Use Survey. Final Report. Salem, OR: Oregon Dept. Human Resources, 1995.
Conference/Symposium Proceedings
Citations must be from a published proceeding and may be used only if the publication has an ISBN or ISSN number, and should include page numbers.
7. Slama, K, ed. Tobacco and health. In: Proceedings of the Ninth World Conference on Tobacco and Health, Paris, France, 10 – 14 October, 1994. New York, NY: Plenum Press, 48 – 55, 1995.
References from Electronic Sources
Referencing electronic sources is not always dependable. Strength and Conditioning Journal generally limits references from electronic sources to those listed below. The editor reserves the right to refuse all electronic references that do not meet the standards of the journal. If there is a printed copy of a reference as well as an electronic one, the journal of record for that publication should be cited. The following reference formats should be used:
E-Pub Ahead of Print
8. Kawamori, N, Nosaka, K, and Newton, RU. Relationships between ground reaction impulse and sprint acceleration performance in team-sport athletes. J Strength Cond Res, 2012. [e-pub ahead of print].
Refereed Online Journal
9. Simon, JA and Hudes, ES. Relationship of ascorbic acid to blood lead levels. JAMA [serial online]. 281:2289 – 2293, 1999. Available from: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/281/24/2289. Accessed November 19, 2007.
Refereed Journal Article on CD-ROM
10. Gershen, ES. Antisocial behavior. Arch Gen Psychiatry [serial on CD-ROM]. 52:900 – 901, 1995.
Government Resource
11. Illinois 93rd General Assembly. Ephedra Prohibition Act, 093_HB2311. Available at: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/93/093-0008.htm. Accessed November 19, 2007.
Major Non-Profit Professional Organization
12. National Strength and Conditioning Association Professional Standards and Guidelines Task Force. Strength and Conditioning Professional Standards and Guidelines. May, 2001. Available at: http://www.nsca-lift.org/Publications/SCStandards.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2010.
Personal Communications and General Website References
Personal communications and general references to entire websites (not articles that appear on websites) should appear as in-text citations. They should not appear in the reference list. For a personal communication, cite in text in the following manner: "Similar findings have been noted by H. E. Marman, MD (written communication, August 2005)." For a general website, cite in text in the following manner: "Only one educational institution currently offers such an opportunity (see United States Sport Institution website at www.ussi.edu)."
Muscle “Fiber Types” Nomenclature
When using nomenclature for muscle “fiber types” please use the following terminology. Muscle fiber types can identified using histochemical or gel electrophoresis methods of classification. Histochemical staining of the ATPases is used to separate fibers into type I (slow twitch), type IIa (fast twitch) and type IIb (fast twitch) forms. The work of Smerdu et. al (AJP 267: C1723, 1994) indicates that type IIb fibers contain type IIx myosin heavy chain (gel electrophoresis fiber typing). For the sake of continuity and to decrease confusion on this point it is recommended authors use IIx to designate IIb fibers in their manuscripts.
Smerdu V, Karsch-Mizrachi I, Campione M, Leinwand L, Schiaffino S. Type IIx myosin heavy chain transcripts are expressed in type IIb fibers of human skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol. 267 (6 Pt 1):C1723-1728, 1994.
Tables, Illustrations, Photographs, and Video Clips
The Editor in Chief encourages authors to submit tables, color photographs, charts, video clips, and figures that help to illustrate new and unique aspects of the article. All such material should be placed in separate files. Do NOT submit tables as photographs. Number tables consecutively, then number figures consecutively in the order of their first citation in the text and supply a brief caption for each. Label each column a short or abbreviated heading.
Figure and table captions (legends) should be part of the manuscript file as figures and their legends take separate production paths. Both tables and figures should “stand alone”. The table or figure legend should provide sufficient information for the reader to understand the table without having to search the manuscript for clarification. Please provide complete information for any abbreviation used in the table or figure.
Please refer to the link on the Strength and Conditioning Journal Editorial Manager login page, “5 Steps to Creating Digital Artwork (PDF)” for additional information on submitting figures. Do NOT send files with figures (photographs, charts, tables, graphics) embedded in the text. Charts, illustrations, and video clips must be of good technical quality. Electronic photographs copied and pasted into Word and PowerPoint will NOT be accepted. Halftone and color images should be scanned at a minimum of 300 pixels per inch (ppi). Line art should be scanned at 1200 ppi. Please indicate the file format of the graphics. We accept TIFF or EPS format for both Macintosh and PC platforms. PowerPoint is also acceptable.
All photographs and videos should demonstrate adequate health and safety procedures in the weight room or training environment (i.e. wearing shirts and shoes, removing hats, using safety collars on the bar). The focus of the photograph or video should not be on a commercial product or the identity of a school or business. SCJ reserves the right to remove or request new, revised photos if the original photos or video clips contain an identifiable logo, product name, school name, business name, etc., if the photo or video is not of acceptable quality, or if it demonstrates unsafe practices (no collars, no shoes, etc).
If you will be using a digital camera to capture images for print production, you must use the highest resolution setting option with the least amount of compression. Digital camera manufactures use many different terms and file formats when capturing high-resolution images, so please refer to your camera’s manual for more information.
Model Release Form
Model release forms should be completed and signed by all models appearing in figures, video clips, audio clips, and possibly other formats. It is the policy of Strength and Conditioning Journal to make every effort not to block out the faces of individuals in figures, etc. If a model is under 18 years of age, parental consent is required along with the consent of the model. If a model release form is not submitted through Editorial Manager, the Editors reserve the right to remove that figure and associated text from the article or column. If the figure is a key component of the manuscript, failing to submit model release forms will significantly delay the publication of the manuscript if accepted.
If the photograph depicts an individual who has an established patient relationship with a medical/clinical practitioner, special federal guidelines apply. For “patients”, it is required that a release form be signed by the patient (or patient and parent if under age 18). It is also required that the face of a patient be blocked out. As it is the policy of the journal not to block out faces, we request that you use photographs of models that are not patients whenever possible.
Model Release Form for Adults (PDF)
Model Release Form for Minors (PDF)
Supplemental Digital Content (SDC) (including Video Abstract for Accepted manuscripts)
Authors may submit SDC via Editorial Manager to LWW journals that enhance their article’s text to be considered for online posting. SDC may include standard media such as text documents, graphs, audio, video, etc. On the Attach Files page of the submission process, please select Supplemental Audio, Video, or Data for your uploaded file as the Submission Item. If an article with SDC is accepted, our production staff will create a URL with the SDC file. The URL will be placed in the call-out within the article. SDC files are not copy-edited by LWW staff, they will be presented digitally as submitted. For a list of all available file types and detailed instructions, please visit the Author Checklist for Submitting Supplemental Digital Content.
SDC Call-outs
Supplemental Digital Content must be cited consecutively in the text of the submitted manuscript. Citations should include the type of material submitted (Audio, Figure, Table, etc.), be clearly labeled as “Supplemental Digital Content,” include the sequential list number, and provide a description of the supplemental content. All descriptive text should be included in the call-out as it will not appear elsewhere in the article.
Example:
Proper form for the step-up lunge is depicted in Figures 1 and 2, as well as in the video SDC 1.
List of Supplemental Digital Content
A listing of Supplemental Digital Content must be submitted at the end of the manuscript file. Include the SDC number and file type of the Supplemental Digital Content. This text will be removed by our production staff and not be published.
Example:
SDC 1.wmv
SDC File Requirements
All acceptable file types are permissible up to 10 MBs. For video files greater than 10 MBs, authors should first query the journal office for approval. For a list of all available file types and detailed instructions, please visit Author Checklist for Submitting Supplemental Digital Content.
Copyright Transfer and Previously Published Material
The National Strength and Conditioning Association must receive in writing the exclusive assignment of copyright from all authors at the time of manuscript submission. Manuscripts will not enter the peer-review process until the author-completed copyright assignment form is received by the Editorial Office. Manuscripts are considered for publication on the condition that they are contributed solely to Strength and Conditioning Journal. Submitted manuscripts may not been and will not be published elsewhere, in part or in whole. Manuscripts containing text that has been posted to the Internet for public access will not be considered for publication.
Authors also acknowledge that all text, tables, and figures are original works. If a table or figure is copied from a previously published source, it is the responsibility of the author to obtain and provide proof of permission to republish that table or figure. "Adapted" figures and tables require permission of the copyright owner to be published.
Conflicts of Interest
Authors must state all possible conflicts of interest in the manuscript, including financial, consultant, institutional and other relationships that might lead to bias or a conflict of interest. If there is no conflict of interest, this should also be explicitly stated as none declared. All sources of funding should be acknowledged in the manuscript. All relevant conflicts of interest and sources of funding should be included on the title page of the manuscript with the heading “Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding.” For example:
Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: A has received honoraria from Company Z. B is currently receiving a grant (#12345) from Organization Y, and is on the speaker’s bureau for Organization X – the CME organizers for Company A. For the remaining authors none were declared.
In addition, each author must complete and submit the journal’s copyright transfer agreement, which includes a section on the disclosure of potential conflicts of interest based on the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” (www.icmje.org/update.html). The form is readily available on the manuscript submission page (http://www.editorialmanager.com/scj) and can be completed and submitted electronically. Please note that authors may sign the copyright transfer agreement form electronically. For additional information about electronically signing this form, go to http://links.lww.com/ZUAT/A106.
Authorship Requirements
To qualify for authorship, each individual shall have contributed to the manuscript in the initial concept and design, as a primary author, or as an author making significant revisions to the manuscript. Each author must submit an assignment of copyright prior to the review of the manuscript. For additional authorship details, see “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” at http://www.icmje.org/.
Open access
LWW's hybrid open access option is offered to authors whose articles have been accepted for publication. With this choice, articles are made freely available online immediately upon publication. Authors may take advantage of the open access option at the point of acceptance to ensure that this choice has no influence on the peer review and acceptance process. These articles are subject to the journal's standard peer-review process and will be accepted or rejected based on their own merit.
Authors of accepted peer-reviewed articles have the choice to pay a fee to allow perpetual unrestricted online access to their published article to readers globally, immediately upon publication. The article processing charge for Strength and Conditioning Journal is $3,000. The article processing charge for authors funded by the Research Councils UK (RCUK) is $3,800. The publication fee is charged on acceptance of the article and should be paid within 30 days by credit card by the author, funding agency or institution.
- Authors retain copyright
Authors retain their copyright for all articles they opt to publish open access. Authors grant LWW a license to publish the article and identify itself as the original publisher.
- Creative Commons license
Articles opting for open access will be freely available to read, download and share from the time of publication. Articles are published under the terms of the Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommerical No Derivative 3.0 which allows readers to disseminate and reuse the article, as well as share and reuse of the scientific material. It does not permit commercial exploitation or the creation of derivative works without specific permission. To view a copy of this license visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0.
- Compliance with NIH, RCUK, Wellcome Trust and other research funding agency accessibility requirements
A number of research funding agencies now require or request authors to submit the post-print (the article after peer review and acceptance but not the final published article) to a repository that is accessible online by all without charge. As a service to our authors, LWW identifies to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) articles that require deposit and transmits the post-print of an article based on research funded in whole or in part by the National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, or other funding agencies to PubMed Central. The revised Copyright Transfer Agreement provides the mechanism. LWW ensures that authors can fully comply with the public access requirements of major funding bodies worldwide. Additionally, all authors who choose the open access option will have their final published article deposited into PubMed Central.
RCUK and Wellcome funded authors can choose to publish their paper as open access with the payment of an article process charge (gold route), or opt for their accepted manuscript to be deposited (green route) into PMC with an embargo.
With both the gold and green open access options, the author will continue to sign the Copyright Transfer Agreement (CTA) as it provides the mechanism for LWW to ensure that the author is fully compliant with the requirements. After signature of the CTA, the author will then sign a License to Publish where they will then own the copyright. Those authors who wish to publish their article via the gold route will be able to publish under the terms of the Attribution 3.0 (CCBY) License. To view of a copy of this license visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. Those authors who wish to publish their article via the green route will be able to publish under the rights of the Attribution Non-commercial 3.0 (CCBY NC) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/).
It is the responsibility of the author to inform the Editorial Office and/or LWW that they have RCUK funding. LWW will not be held responsible for retroactive deposits to PMC if the author has not completed the proper forms.
FAQ for open access
http://links.lww.com/LWW-ES/A48
Misconduct
To comply with appropriate copyright law, manuscripts with a high “similarity” to previous publications will be returned to the author for revisions. Serious deviation from accepted practices includes plagiarism or duplicate publication. Misconduct does not include honest error or honest differences in the interpretation or judgment of data. The NSCA and Strength and Conditioning Journal reserve the right to forward relevant material to appropriate authorities including the authors’ institution or employer. Sanctions by the journal or the NSCA may be pursued. For additional misconduct details, see “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” at http://www.icmje.org/.
Letters to the Editor-in-Chief
Letters addressed to the Editor-in-Chief will be reviewed for publication if they promote intellectual discussion of an article published within the previous 12 months. Letters should contain an informative title and follow the submission requirements for manuscripts. Letters are limited to 500 words and a maximum of eight (8) references including the original article. If the letter is accepted for publication, the author of the original article (or the editor if appropriate) will be invited to submit a rebuttal that will be published with the letter. Letter responses will be held to the same length and referencing requirements.
Final Decisions Regarding Accepted Manuscripts
The acceptance, rejection, and published form of all manuscripts submitted to Strength and Conditioning Journal are the final decisions of the Editor-in-Chief.
