Journal of Sport Psychology in Action

Organizational sport psychology (OSP) is a subfield of sport psychology that is dedicated to better understanding individual behavior and social processes in sport organizations to enable individuals and communities to thrive. This subfield is grounded in the premise that effective practice is characterized by the development of sport systems that are psychologically informed and where practitioners attend to and seek to influence the interactions between individuals, teams, organizations, and systems in their practice. Practitioners adopting organizational or systemic approaches therefore acknowledge the complexity of sport organizations and how those we work with are influenced by social, cultural, or historical factors within their context. Edited volumes (e.g., Wagstaff, 2016) and Special Issues (JASP, Issue 31(1), 2020) on OSP have provided a useful conceptual foundation for this topic, and in this special issue we seek to capture practice innovations and developments to advance organizational and systemic practice.

Organizational sport psychology (OSP) is a subfield of sport psychology that is dedicated to better understanding individual behavior and social processes in sport organizations to enable individuals and communities to thrive. This subfield is grounded in the premise that effective practice is characterized by the development of sport systems that are psychologically informed and where practitioners attend to and seek to influence the interactions between individuals, teams, organizations, and systems in their practice. Practitioners adopting organizational or systemic approaches therefore acknowledge the complexity of sport organizations and how those we work with are influenced by social, cultural, or historical factors within their context. Edited volumes (e.g., Wagstaff, 2016) and Special Issues (JASP, Issue 31(1), 2020) on OSP have provided a useful conceptual foundation for this topic, and in this special issue we seek to capture practice innovations and developments to advance organizational and systemic practice.

While authors are encouraged to prepare manuscripts in a way that best meets the aims and scope of JSPA within the Guidance for Authors on the Journal webpage, we offer the following as a potential way to structure your manuscript. We encourage authors to provide an initial scholarly foundation and rationale for the article grounded in relevant theory and research (approximately 2-3 pages). We are particularly interested in manuscripts that then outline and critically discuss organizational or systemic applications of psychology within sport environments (e.g., a program, service or service model, intervention; approximately 5-7 pages). Next, we would recommend offering clear and precise guidelines for how a sport psychology practitioner might adapt and use this application in their own practice context (approximately 3-5 pages). Manuscripts might also conclude with key resources, recommendations, or summary points that support knowledge translation or practice advancement (2 pages) and should limit references to 2 pages.

While authors are encouraged to prepare manuscripts in a way that best meets the aims and scope of JSPA within the Guidance for Authors on the Journal webpage, we offer the following as a potential way to structure your manuscript. We encourage authors to provide an initial scholarly foundation and rationale for the article grounded in relevant theory and research (approximately 2-3 pages). We are particularly interested in manuscripts that then outline and critically discuss organizational or systemic applications of psychology within sport environments (e.g., a program, service or service model, intervention; approximately 5-7 pages). Next, we would recommend offering clear and precise guidelines for how a sport psychology practitioner might adapt and use this application in their own practice context (approximately 3-5 pages). Manuscripts might also conclude with key resources, recommendations, or summary points that support knowledge translation or practice advancement (2 pages) and should limit references to 2 pages.

For informal inquiries about manuscript suitability, prospective authors can contact the Guest Editor, Chris Wagstaff ([email protected]) or the Editor-In Chief of JSPA, Robert Schinke ([email protected]). Manuscripts must conform to the submission guidelines of JSPA and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Edition).

Submissions should be made no later than October 31, 2024 via the electronic portal of Scholar One, where special issue manuscripts can be submitted. Final decisions will be made by the Editor-in Chief. Publication of this special issue is projected for March 31, 2025.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article