The Journal of Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine (JNASSM) is the official scholarly publication of the Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine (NASSM). The journal publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed manuscripts that advance knowledge in sports science, exercise science, sports medicine, physical activity, health promotion, and related interdisciplinary fields.

JNASSM operates a rigorous double-blind peer-review process. All manuscripts are assessed for originality, academic rigor, relevance, and contribution to theory, research, and practice. Normally, authors submitting manuscripts are expected to be currently registered members of NASSM. However, high-quality manuscripts from non-members are also welcome and may be considered at the discretion of the Editor. These guidelines are intended to assist authors in preparing manuscripts for submission and successful navigation of the review and editorial process. Authors are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these instructions.

Language

• All manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English.
• Either British or American English may be used, but consistency must be maintained throughout the manuscript.
• Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to seek professional language editing prior to submission.

Scope of the Journal

JNASSM considers original contributions in, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Sports and Exercise Physiology
• Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Exercise and Health Promotion
• Physical Activity and Public Health
• Sports Psychology and Motor Behaviour
• Biomechanics and Human Movement Science
• Coaching Science and Athlete Development
• Sports Nutrition and Ergogenic Aids
• Physical Education and Pedagogy
• Sports Management and Policy
• Applied and Clinical Sports Science
• Interdisciplinary and applied research with strong scientific grounding is particularly encouraged.

Types of Manuscripts Accepted

The journal accepts the following categories of manuscripts:

• Original Research Articles
• Review Articles (systematic, scoping, or narrative)
• Short Communications / Brief Reports
• Case Studies / Case Reports
• Methodological Papers
• Professional Practice and Policy Papers
• Letters to the Editor (by invitation or at editorial discretion)

Manuscript Submission

• Manuscripts must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format.
• Submissions must be original work that has not been published previously and is not under consideration elsewhere.
• All submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter addressed to the Managing Editor

Ethical Considerations

Research Ethics

• Studies involving human participants must indicate ethical approval from a recognized institutional ethics committee.
• Research involving animals must comply with internationally accepted ethical standards.
• Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained where applicable.

Publication Ethics

• JNASSM adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
• Plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, and unethical research practices are unacceptable.
• All manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software.

Authorship

• Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work.
• All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
• Any changes to authorship after submission require written consent from all authors.

Conflict of Interest

• Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the work.
• If no conflict exists, authors should explicitly state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Manuscript Preparation (APA 7th Edition)

All manuscripts must conform strictly to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition).

General Formatting

• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.
• Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout.
• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Page numbers: Bottom right corner.
• Text alignment: Left-aligned (ragged right) .

Structure of the Manuscript

Title Page (submitted separately)

• Title of the manuscript (concise and informative) .
• Full names of all authors.
• Institutional affiliations and ORCID.
• Corresponding author’s name, email address, and phone number.
• Acknowledgements (if applicable) .

Blinded Manuscript

• The main manuscript must not contain any identifying information about the authors.

Abstract

• Maximum of 250 words
• Structured abstracts are recommended for empirical studies
• Should clearly state: Background, Purpose or objectives, Methods and Materials, Results, and Conclusion

Keywords

• Provide 4–6 keywords immediately after the abstract

Main Text

For empirical research, the manuscript should generally follow this structure:

• Introduction
• Method and Materials
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Recommendation
• Declaration of conflict of interest
• Declaration of funding
• Subheadings should be used where appropriate.

Tables and Figures

• Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively and titled clearly.
• Each table or figure must be cited in the text.
• Place tables and figures after the references or embed them within the text where first mentioned.
• Use APA 7th edition formatting for captions and notes.

Citations and References

• All in-text citations and references must conform to APA 7th edition style.
• Ensure that every reference cited in the text appears in the reference list and vice versa.
• References should be current, relevant, and primarily drawn from peer-reviewed sources not later than 10 years

In-Text Citation Examples

One Author

Narrative:

• Blair (2019) reported that regular physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk.

Parenthetical:

• Regular physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk (Blair, 2019).

Two Authors

Narrative:

 

• Bouchard and Shephard (2018) emphasized the role of exercise in disease prevention.

Parenthetical:

• Exercise plays a key role in disease prevention (Bouchard & Shephard, 2018).

Three or More Authors

Narrative:

• Haskell et al. (2020) examined the relationship between physical activity and mortality.

Parenthetical:

• Physical activity is inversely associated with mortality (Haskell et al., 2020).

Multiple Sources in One Citation

Parenthetical:

• Several studies support this finding (Blair, 2019; Haskell et al., 2020; Warburton & Bredin, 2017).

Direct Quotation

Short quote (less than 40 words):

• According to ACSM (2021), “regular physical activity is essential for maintaining health across the lifespan” (p. 3).

Organization as Author

Narrative:

• The World Health Organization (2020) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity weekly.

Parenthetical:

• Adults should engage in regular physical activity (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020).

Reference List Examples

Journal Article (One Author)

• Blair, S. N. (2019). Physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease risk. Sports Medicine, 49(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01098-3

Journal Article (Two Authors)

• Bouchard, C., & Shephard, R. J. (2018). Physical activity, fitness, and health: The model and key concepts. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1397430

Journal Article (Three or More Authors)

• Haskell, W. L., Lee, I. M., Pate, R. R., Powell, K. E., Blair, S. N., Franklin, B. A., & Bauman, A. (2020). Physical activity and public health: Updated recommendations. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 52(6), 1188–1199. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002291

Book

• Warburton, D. E. R., & Bredin, S. S. D. (2017). Health benefits of physical activity: A systematic review. Springer.

Chapter in an Edited Book

• Shephard, R. J. (2019). Exercise physiology and health outcomes. In C. Bouchard & S. N. Blair (Eds.), Physical activity and health (2nd ed., pp. 45–68). Human Kinetics.

Organization / Institutional Report

• World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. World Health Organization.

Conference Proceeding

• Okoye, E. C., & Adeyemi, A. O. (2023). Physical fitness knowledge and competitive performance among soccer players. In Proceedings of the Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine Conference (pp. 112–118). NASSM.

Notes for Authors

• Use “&” inside parentheses, “and” in narrative text
• Use et al. for three or more authors in-text
• Include DOIs where available
• Journal titles and volume numbers are italicized
• Issue numbers are not italicized

Length of Manuscripts

• Original Research Articles: 4,000–6,000 words (excluding references)
• Review Articles: 5,000–8,000 words
• Short Communications: 2,000–3,000 words
• Case Reports: 2,000–3,500 words
•  

Peer Review Process

• JNASSM uses a double-blind peer-review system.
• Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts.
• Editorial decisions may include: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.

Revisions

• Authors are expected to respond to reviewers’ comments point-by-point.
• Revised manuscripts should clearly indicate changes made.

Publication Fees

• Accepted manuscripts are subject to a publication fee, as determined by the Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine.
• Details regarding payment will be communicated upon acceptance.

Copyright and Licensing

• Authors retain copyright of their work but grant JNASSM the right of first publication.
• Any reuse of published material must properly acknowledge the journal.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in published articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine.

Contact Information

All correspondence regarding manuscript submission should be addressed to:

The Managing Editor

Journal of Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine (JNASSM)