Why Open Access?

Open access (OA) publishing is a model of scholarly publishing that makes research articles freely available to anyone online, without paywalls or subscription fees. This approach ensures that scientific knowledge is accessible to researchers, practitioners, and the public worldwide.
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Key Features of Open Access Publishing:

  1. Free Accessibility – Articles can be read, downloaded, and shared by anyone without financial barriers.
  2. Copyright and Licensing – Open access articles are typically published under Creative Commons (CC) licenses, allowing authors to retain copyright while permitting broader distribution and reuse.
  3. Funding Model – Instead of charging readers, many OA journals cover publishing costs through Article Processing Charges (APCs) paid by authors, their institutions, or funding agencies.
  4. Types of Open Access:
    • Gold Open Access – The final published version is immediately and permanently available for free, often requiring APCs.
    • Green Open Access – Authors deposit a version of their work (preprint or accepted manuscript) in an institutional or subject-specific repository, often after an embargo period.
    • Hybrid Open Access – Subscription-based journals allow authors to pay an APC to make their individual article open access.
    • Diamond/Platinum Open Access – No APCs are charged to authors; publishing costs are covered by institutions, governments, or sponsors.

Benefits of Open Access Publishing

  1. Increased Visibility & Citations – OA articles are freely available to anyone, leading to greater readership and often more citations compared to paywalled articles.
  2. Wider Public Access – Researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and the general public can access the research without subscription barriers.
  3. Compliance with Funding Requirements – Many funding agencies require researchers to publish in OA journals to ensure public access to publicly funded research.
  4. Potential for Greater Collaboration – The unrestricted access can help foster international and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  5. Long-Term Availability – OA publications remain accessible indefinitely, whereas paywalled content can become unavailable if a subscription is lost.

What is the IJSPT Open Access Policy and APC?

The IJSPT is a Gold Open Access (OA) Journal, recognized by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA).

 The IJSPT has a one time submission fee of $100 for all papers submitted for consideration and peer review. This fee covers the submission and peer review process throughout any/all revisions until the time of a decision.

 As of January 2025, the IJSPT began to charge an article processing charge (APC) for all accepted publications. The APC must be collected prior to publication.

Current APC Comparison for Related Journals as of February 2025

Journal  Journal Type APC (USD)  Waivers/Discounts Available
IJSPT Gold $1250 Yes
JOSPT Hybrid $3000 Yes
JOSPT Open Gold $1000 Yes
Sports Health Hybrid $4000 Yes
AJSM Hybrid $4000 Yes
BJSM Hybrid $5000 Yes

What Waivers and Discounts are Available?

Equity in OA Publishing

The IJSPT is committed to advancing equity in open access publishing internationally. We will offer full and partial waivers for authors from low and low-middle income countries. Authors with accepted manuscripts in the IJSPT can apply for a waiver with the editorial office here upon acceptance.

 For questions regarding waivers please contact Managing Editor, Ashley Campbell (acampbell@ijspt.org)

Reviewer Benefits

The IJSPT is made possible by many volunteer reviewers who have dedicated time to peer review. In an effort to thank our reviewers, those who complete five, on-time reviews for the IJSPT will be eligible to receive a waiver for the full APC for any paper they have accepted in the IJSPT. If you are a current reviewer interested in increasing your volume of reviews, or looking to start as a reviewer, please contact Ashley Campbell (acampbell@ijspt.org).

Partner Organizations

Members of the AASPT will be provided a $250 discount for the APC. Members with accepted papers can notify the IJSPT editorial office at the time of acceptance. Active/good standing membership of the corresponding author will be confirmed with the AASPT office and discount applied.

Individuals who are active with a member country of the IFSPT will also be eligible for a $250 discount. The IFSPT leadership is working with the IJSPT for formal avenues to confirm membership. Corresponding authors will work with the editorial office to confirm and apply this discount.

Institutional Funding

The IJSPT strongly recommends that anyone in an academic or research center setting check with the appropriate channels for any funds available for OA publishing. Many institutions provide faculty and/or employees with an annual allotment of funds to publish in qualified OA journals such as the IJSPT.

What are APC funds utilized for?

The IJSPT is run and maintained by largely volunteer staff and a very small number of independent contractors. The IJSPT seeks to run at a revenue neutral status. We do so in part by the generous contributions of our sponsors, however, there are numerous expenses associated with running and maintaining the journal which the APCs help offset.

 The general budget to run the IJSPT (a mid-size professional journal with outsourced production) includes but is not limited to:

  • Editorial & Peer Review Management
  • Production & Publishing
  • Hosting & Platform Costs
  • Indexing & Compliance
  • Marketing & Community Engagement
  • Business Administration

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