• As an open access journal, the Asia Pacific Journal of Applied Sport Sciences fully adheres to the Principles for Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing(Version 4.0), as established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

1. Name of Journal

• The official title of the journal is Asia Pacific Journal of Applied Sport Sciences(hereinafter referred to as “APJASS”).

2. Website

• The official website of the journal is available at https://www.ascs.kr. The editorial team is committed to maintaining a high-quality and professionally managed website. The site reflects careful attention to ethical standards and best publishing practices. It contains no misleading information, nor does it attempt in any way to imitate or misrepresent another journal’s or publisher’s website.

3. Publishing Schedule

• APJASS is published triannually, with issues released in April, August, and December. In addition to its regular issues, the journal may publish supplementary or special issues as deemed appropriate. The journal has maintained a consistent publication schedule since its establishment

4. Archiving

• APJASS is committed to ensuring the long-term preservation, accessibility, and integrity of all published content through recognized national archiving systems and established digital preservation practices.

4.1 National Archiving

• All published articles are permanently archived and made openly accessible without restriction through the Korea Citation Index (https://kci.go.kr) and the National Library of Korea (http://nl.go.kr), in accordance with national academic publishing and legal deposit standards.
  In the event that the journal ceases publication, previously published content will remain permanently accessible through these national repositories.

4.2 DOI Registration (Crossref)

• Each published article is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) through Crossref to ensure persistent identification, reliable citation linking, and long-term digital accessibility.

4.3 Digital Preservation and Backup

• The journal maintains secure digital backups of all published content to prevent data loss and ensure continuity of access. APJASS is committed to implementing digital preservation practices consistent with national and international scholarly publishing standards.

4.4 Self-Archiving Policy

• Authors are not permitted to archive manuscripts prior to peer review (preprints). However, archiving of the final, peer-reviewed manuscript (postprint) is permitted. The publisher’s version, including the final published PDF, may also be archived, provided appropriate citation to the original publication is included.

5. Copyright

• The copyright of this publication is held by the Asian Society for Sport Convergence Sciences. All authors are required to agree to the transfer of copyright as part of the manuscript submission process.

6. Licensing

• APJASS is an open access journal. All articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution–Non Commercial License (CC BY-NC 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0), which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
  Permission to reproduce tables or figures from APJASS in other journals, books, or media for academic or educational purposes is not required, provided that appropriate attribution is given.

7. Publication Ethics and Editorial Policies

7.1. Compliance with Ethical Standards

• APJASS adheres to the Core Practices and Guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (https://publicationethics.org) and to the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) (https://www.icmje.org/recommendations).

7.2. Accessibility of Publication Ethics Policies

• Detailed information regarding the journal’s publication ethics policies is available under the “For Contributors and Publication Ethics” section of the journal website. The Editorial Board rigorously evaluates all submitted manuscripts to ensure compliance with the ethical standards and recommendations established by COPE and the ICMJE.

7.3. Handling of Research and Publication Misconduct

Investigation Procedures

• In cases where research or publication misconduct is suspected—including, but not limited to, duplicate publication, plagiarism, data fabrication or manipulation, inappropriate authorship changes, undisclosed conflicts of interest, ethical concerns identified during peer review, misappropriation of authors’ ideas or data by reviewers, or formal complaints submitted to the editors—the journal follows the relevant COPE flowcharts (https://publicationethics.org/resources/flowcharts) to guide the investigation and resolution process. The Editorial Board deliberates on each case and renders a final decision.
  When warranted, APJASS will promptly publish corrections, clarifications, expressions of concern, retractions, or apologies to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Post-Publication Actions

• Retraction Policy

• APJASS may retract a published article when there is clear evidence of research misconduct, including but not limited to plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, unethical research practices, duplicate publication, or serious errors that invalidate the findings. Retraction decisions are made by the Editorial Board in accordance with COPE guidelines.

• Retraction Notice Format

• A retraction will be accompanied by a formal retraction notice that clearly states the reason for retraction and identifies the responsible party when appropriate. The notice will be linked to the original article and will remain permanently accessible.

• Online Marking of Retracted Articles

• Retracted articles will not be removed from the journal website. Instead, the article will be clearly marked as “Retracted” on each page, and the retraction notice will be prominently displayed to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

7.4. Authorship and Contributor (CRediT)

Authorship Criteria and CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy)

• APJASS adopts the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) system to enhance transparency in authorship. All authors must clearly specify their individual contributions at the time of submission. Authorship must comply with the recommendations of the ICMJE. Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

Author Identification (ORCID Policy)

• APJASS encourages all authors to register for and provide an Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID iD) at the time of manuscript submission. ORCID iDs help ensure accurate author identification, enhance transparency in scholarly communication, and improve the discoverability of published research.
  Authors may link their ORCID iD to the submission system to enable proper attribution of their work. The journal supports the integration of ORCID in accordance with international publishing standards.

7.5. Research Data Policy

• APJASS is committed to promoting transparency, reproducibility, and research integrity. Authors are encouraged to make the data supporting the findings of their study publicly available whenever possible.
  Authors should include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscript specifying where the data can be accessed, including repository information and persistent identifiers (e.g., DOI), or provide a clear explanation if the data cannot be shared due to ethical, legal, or confidentiality constraints.
  Where appropriate, datasets should be deposited in recognized public repositories relevant to the discipline. If no suitable domain-specific repository exists, authors may use a general repository.
  The Editorial Board may request access to underlying data for the purpose of peer review or verification. Failure to provide data upon reasonable request may result in rejection or retraction of the manuscript.
  APJASS supports responsible data sharing practices that comply with institutional review board (IRB) regulations and applicable data protection laws.

7.6. AI Use Policy

• The use of generative AI tools in manuscript preparation must be disclosed. AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

7.7. Ethical Approval and IRB Policy

• APJASS requires that all research involving human participants comply with internationally recognized ethical standards, including the Declaration of Helsinki, and receive prior approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee. Manuscripts must include the name of the approving institution and the approval number where applicable. Informed consent must be obtained from all participants.
  Research involving animals must be approved by an appropriate institutional ethics committee and conducted in accordance with relevant animal welfare regulations.
  Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry prior to participant enrollment.
  All empirical studies must include an Ethical Approval Statement in the manuscript. The Editorial Board may request supporting documentation when necessary. Failure to comply with ethical requirements may result in rejection or other editorial action in accordance with COPE guidelines.

7.8. Conflict of Interest Policy

• APJASS requires all authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research process, peer review, or editorial decisions.
  Authors must include a Conflict of Interest Statement in their manuscript, explicitly declaring any potential conflicts or stating that no conflicts exist. Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in rejection, correction, or retraction in accordance with COPE guidelines.
  Reviewers must decline review invitations if a conflict of interest may compromise objectivity. Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict.
  Declared conflicts will be disclosed to ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

7.9. Ethics for Reviewers

• APJASS upholds the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in its peer-review process. Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality and credibility of the journal.

Confidentiality

• All manuscripts under review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, distribute, or use any information from the manuscript for personal or professional advantage. Manuscripts may not be retained after completion of the review process.

Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

• Reviewers are expected to provide objective, fair, and constructive evaluations based solely on scholarly merit. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.

Conflict of Interest

• Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest prior to accepting a review assignment. If a conflict exists that may compromise impartiality, the reviewer must decline the invitation.

Data Protection and Ethical Responsibility

• Reviewers must respect data protection standards and ensure that confidential or sensitive data contained in manuscripts are not disclosed. Suspected ethical concerns, including plagiarism, data manipulation, or misconduct, should be reported to the Editor.

7. 10. Appeals and Complaints Process

• APJASS ensures a fair and transparent editorial process. Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written request to the Editor-in-Chief, clearly stating the grounds for reconsideration. Appeals will be reviewed independently, and the final decision will be communicated to the author.
  Complaints regarding editorial procedures, peer review, ethical concerns, or publication practices may be submitted in writing to the journal’s official contact address. All cases will be handled confidentially and in accordance with COPE guidelines.
  APJASS guarantees that appeals and complaints will be addressed impartially and without retaliation, thereby maintaining accountability and the integrity of the scholarly record.

7.11. Citation Ethics Policy

• The journal does not engage in excessive self-citation or coercive citation practices. Editorial decisions are independent of citation considerations.

8. Peer review

8.1 Initial Screening and Scope Check

• APJASS operates a fully online submission and peer-review system (http://journal.ascs.kr/index.asp). All submitted manuscripts undergo editorial and peer review.
  Upon submission, manuscripts are initially screened for compliance with the journal’s formatting requirements and for alignment with its aims and scope. Manuscripts that satisfy these criteria are assigned to at least two independent reviewers with relevant subject-matter expertise.

8.2 Plagiarism and Similarity Screening

• Prior to peer review, all submissions are screened for textual similarity using the iThenticate plagiarism detection system (https://www.crossref.org/services/similarity-check/). Manuscripts exceeding acceptable similarity thresholds may be returned or rejected.

8.3 Double-Blind Review Process

• APJASS employs a double-blind peer-review process, ensuring that the identities of authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the evaluation. Author names and institutional affiliations are removed from manuscripts during review.

8.4 Editorial Decision-Making

• A minimum of two reviewer reports is required for editorial consideration. Where appropriate, an additional statistical review may be requested. Publication decisions are based on the scientific quality, originality, and scholarly significance of the research, taking into account the reviewers’ comments and recommendations. Initial decisions are generally communicated within eight weeks of submission. Reviewer comments are provided to the corresponding author via email and through the online submission system. Authors are required to submit a detailed, itemized response to reviewers’ comments when revising their manuscript. Failure to resubmit a revised manuscript within two weeks of the editorial decision will be considered a withdrawal. The final decision regarding acceptance or rejection is made by the Editor and communicated to the corresponding author.
  Manuscripts submitted by editors, editorial board members, or journal staff are processed in the same manner as all other submissions. Such individuals are excluded from the review and decision-making process for their own manuscripts. Editors do not directly oversee or review their own submissions, including commissioned manuscripts.
  Submission does not guarantee acceptance without peer review, nor does it ensure an expedited review process. Commissioned manuscripts are likewise subject to the same pre-publication peer-review standards as regular submissions.

9. Access

• APJASS is an open access journal. Full-text articles are made freely available in PDF format immediately upon publication, without any embargo period or access restrictions.

10. Ownership and Management

• APJASS is owned and published by the Asian Society for Sport Convergence Sciences. The journal is administered and overseen by its Editorial Board, which is responsible for its academic management and editorial policies.
  The publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions. All decisions are made independently by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board.

11. Advisory Board

• The Advisory Board serves as the journal’s Editorial Board. The names and institutional affiliations of all Editorial Board members are publicly available on the “Editorial Board” page of the journal’s official website. The Editor-in-Chief holds final responsibility for editorial decisions and ensures the academic integrity of the journal. Associate Editors and Section Editors manage the peer-review process within their respective subject areas.
  The Editorial Board consists of scholars from multiple countries and institutions to ensure international diversity and global academic perspectives.

12. Editorial Team and Contact Information

• The names and affiliations of the members of the Editorial Board and the journal’s management team are provided on the “Editorial Board” page of the journal’s website. Official contact information for editorial correspondence is available on the “Contact” page.

13. Article Processing Charges (APC) Policy

• APJASS is committed to full transparency regarding its Article Processing Charges (APCs). Detailed information on APCs, including the current fee structure and related policies, is publicly available on the journal’s official website at:
  http://journal.ascs.kr/html/sub11.asp

13.1. APC Amount

• The exact APC amount, including any applicable taxes or additional charges, is clearly disclosed on the journal website. Authors are informed of all applicable fees prior to final acceptance. Submission of a manuscript does not imply any financial obligation unless the manuscript has been formally accepted for publication.

13.2. Payment Terms

• APCs are payable only after a manuscript has been formally accepted. No fees are charged for manuscript submission, editorial screening, or peer review.

13.3. Refund Policy

• APCs are generally non-refundable once publication has occurred. However, in cases where publication is withdrawn due to editorial error or ethical concerns identified prior to publication, the journal may provide a partial or full refund at its discretion.

13.4. Fee Waiver and Discount Policy

• APJASS may grant partial or full APC waivers in cases of demonstrated financial hardship, institutional constraints, or special academic circumstances. Waiver requests are reviewed independently of the peer-review process and have no influence on editorial decisions.
  All editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit and are entirely independent of the author’s ability to pay.

14. Other Revenue

• The journal’s sources of revenue include financial support provided by the publisher, the Asian Society for Sport Convergence Sciences, as well as article processing charges (APCs) or author fees, where applicable.

15. Advertising

• APJASS does not currently accept commercial advertising. Any future changes to this policy will be formally announced and reflected in the journal’s official guidelines.

16. Direct Marketing

• The journal has been promoted through its official website and the distribution of informational brochures. Invitations for manuscript submission have primarily been extended to conference presenters, academic societies, and scholarly meetings whose themes align with the journal’s aims and scope. All promotional activities are conducted in a professional and transparent manner consistent with accepted standards of academic publishing.

17.Indexing and Abstracting

• APJASS is indexed and abstracted in recognized national and international databases to ensure wide dissemination and academic visibility of its published content.
  The journal is currently indexed in:
  Korea Citation Index (KCI)
  Crossref (for DOI registration and citation linking)
  
  Information regarding additional indexing services will be updated on the journal’s official website as applicable.
  APJASS is committed to expanding its international visibility by applying for inclusion in reputable indexing and abstracting databases in accordance with recognized scholarly publishing standards.