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Sport management journals are peer-reviewed academic publications dedicated to the administration, governance, marketing, economics, and legal frameworks of sports organisations across commercial, public, and non-profit sectors. As an applied social science, sport management connects organisational behaviour, strategic management, consumer psychology, and administrative law. Scholars, academic librarians, and research administrators rely on these specialised periodicals to disseminate empirical research, evaluate institutional contributions, and benchmark disciplinary impact.
Selecting appropriate publication outlets requires understanding how international associations, academic publishers, and citation indexes structure the field. Core sport management journals provide dedicated peer-review panels, established terminology, and targeted dissemination across university faculties and athletic organisations.
What It Is
Sport management journals serve as formal communication channels for scholarship addressing the business, governance, and societal role of sport. These publications document theoretical advances and empirical investigations across educational institutions, professional leagues, national governing bodies, non-profit sports associations, and municipal recreation agencies.
In academic classification, sport management is inherently multi-paradigmatic. Manuscripts published in core periodicals draw upon qualitative inquiry, econometric modelling, survey research, case studies, and policy evaluations. Unlike sports medicine or kinesiology journals—which investigate physiological mechanisms and athletic performance—sports management journals focus on organizational systems, leadership dynamics, ticketing and revenue models, brand equity, event operations, Title IX and regulatory compliance, and community participation structures.
Who Runs It and What It Covers
The institutional governance of sport management scholarship is anchored by international and regional learned societies. These societies partner with academic publishers to manage editorial workflows, appoint editorial boards, and uphold peer-review integrity.
North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM)
Founded in 1985, the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) is the oldest professional society in the discipline. NASSM oversees three prominent journal properties:
- Journal of Sport Management (JSM): Published with Human Kinetics, JSM is widely regarded as the discipline’s flagship publication. It publishes empirical, theoretical, and review articles focused on the governance, management, and marketing of sport organisations.
- Sport Management Education Journal (SMEJ): Published with Human Kinetics, SMEJ focuses on pedagogy, curriculum design, online learning, and professional competencies in higher education sport management programs.
- International Journal of Sport Management (IJSM): Acquired by NASSM from American Press in April 2026, IJSM addresses operational challenges across sport and recreation management, competitive athletics, and fitness programs.
European Association for Sport Management (EASM)
The European Association for Sport Management (EASM) oversees European scholarship and international comparative analyses. Its official outlet is European Sport Management Quarterly (ESMQ), published by Routledge (Taylor & Francis). ESMQ emphasizes governance, policy, and management across public, voluntary, and commercial sports bodies, maintaining a commitment to multi-method empirical scholarship with international relevance.
Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ)
Serving the Asia-Pacific region and global contributors, the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ) directs Sport Management Review (SMR), published by Taylor & Francis. SMR publishes high-impact empirical investigations, systematic reviews, and conceptual papers covering leadership, organisational culture, mega-event logistics, and sport-for-development initiatives.
World Association for Sport Management (WASM)
The World Association for Sport Management (WASM) unites regional bodies across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. In partnership with Taylor & Francis, WASM sponsors the Journal of Global Sport Management (JGSM), which prioritises cross-national and comparative analyses of international sport business systems.
How to Search or Use It
Navigating the sport management literature requires utilizing specialized subject databases and multidisciplinary citation indexes. Researchers, authors, and librarians can execute an effective discovery and dissemination workflow through five steps:
- Query Specialized Abstracting Databases: Begin searches in SPORTDiscus with Full Text (EBSCOhost), the standard bibliographic index for sport disciplines. Combine sport industry descriptors (‘athletic administration’ or ‘sport governance’) with standard business terms (‘strategic planning’ or ‘consumer engagement’).
- Cross-Search Business and Social Science Platforms: Because sport management intersects corporate finance and organisational psychology, cross-reference findings using Business Source Ultimate, ABI/INFORM Global, and Scopus.
- Evaluate Journal Aims and Scope: Prior to manuscript submission, examine the specific call for papers, editorial statement, and recent table of contents on the publisher’s portal. Determine whether your study aligns with a generalist flagship (such as JSM or SMR) or a specialised subfield outlet (such as Sport Marketing Quarterly or the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport).
- Confirm Methodological and Formatting Requirements: Core journals adhere strictly to specific referencing formats, typically APA 7th Edition. Ensure that data collection protocols, ethical oversight, and conflict of interest disclosures conform to author guidelines.
- Access Articles via Subscriptions or Society Membership: While many titles offer hybrid open access, full archives are generally accessible through university library institutional licenses or direct membership in sponsoring societies (such as NASSM or EASM member portals).
Strengths and Limits
Sport management journals provide critical institutional value while presenting unique classification challenges for academic evaluation committees.
Disciplinary Strengths
- Rigorous Applied Focus: Articles address real-world governance, contractual, and marketing dilemmas faced by industry leaders, providing actionable empirical evidence alongside conceptual models.
- Strong International Collaboration: Regional societies foster cross-border comparative research, examining how regulatory differences shape athletic administration.
- Established Peer Review Standards: Core outlets employ double-blind peer review and maintain clear policies regarding research ethics, data transparency, and post-publication peer review.
Structural and Indexing Limits
- Fragmented Category Classification: In Clarivate Web of Science (Journal Citation Reports), sport management does not have an independent category; journals are assigned to Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism within the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). In Scopus, they reside under Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management. This can obscure performance when comparing metrics against general management departments.
- Metric Variations Across Subdisciplines: Citation velocity in sport management is generally lower than in clinical kinesiology. Authors checking a JCR quartile ranking (Q1–Q4) or looking up a journal’s impact factor must evaluate performance within the leisure and tourism peer group rather than broader business administration medians.
- Open Access and APC Costs: Most established titles operate under traditional subscription or hybrid models. Gold open access fees can be substantial for independent researchers lacking grant subvention.
Alternatives
When selecting a target journal, scholars and research administrators should compare core outlets across sponsoring societies, publishers, primary subject areas, and major indexing coverage:
| Journal Title | Sponsoring Society | Publisher | Core Focus Area | Primary Indexing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal of Sport Management (JSM) | NASSM | Human Kinetics | General management, governance, marketing, organisational behaviour | SSCI, Scopus, SPORTDiscus |
| Sport Management Review (SMR) | SMAANZ | Taylor & Francis | Strategic management, sport policy, consumer culture, leadership | SSCI, Scopus, SPORTDiscus |
| European Sport Management Quarterly (ESMQ) | EASM | Taylor & Francis (Routledge) | Public, non-profit, and commercial sport governance and policy | SSCI, Scopus, SPORTDiscus |
| Journal of Global Sport Management (JGSM) | WASM | Taylor & Francis | Cross-national, comparative, and globalised sport business | ESCI, Scopus, SPORTDiscus |
| Sport Management Education Journal (SMEJ) | NASSM | Human Kinetics | Pedagogy, curriculum design, experiential learning, accreditation | Scopus, SPORTDiscus |
| International Journal of Sport Management (IJSM) | NASSM (owned) | NASSM / American Press | Operational administration, recreation management, athletic directing | SPORTDiscus |
| Sport Marketing Quarterly (SMQ) | SMA | FiT Publishing | Consumer behaviour, sponsorship, brand management, licensing | SSCI, Scopus, SPORTDiscus |
| Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport (JLAS) | SRLA | FiT Publishing / SRLA | Sports law, Title IX, tort liability, risk management, labor law | Scopus, SPORTDiscus |
| Journal of Sports Economics (JSE) | NAASE | SAGE Publications | Labor market economics, stadium subsidies, competitive balance | SSCI, Scopus, EconLit |
FAQ
What is the premier journal of sport management?
The Journal of Sport Management (JSM), published by Human Kinetics on behalf of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), is broadly recognized as the flagship academic outlet in the discipline. Alongside JSM, Sport Management Review (SMR) and European Sport Management Quarterly (ESMQ) represent the top tier of international generalist publications in the field.
How are sport management journals categorized in citation databases?
In Clarivate Web of Science (Journal Citation Reports), sport management periodicals are classified under the Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism category of the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). In Elsevier Scopus and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), they are indexed under Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management within the Business, Management and Accounting subject area.
What citation style is standard in sport management journals?
The vast majority of sport management journals require submissions formatted according to the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide, currently APA 7th Edition. Authors should consult the specific journal’s author guidelines for preferences regarding heading structures, statistical reporting, and table layout.
Can research on sports coaching or exercise science be published in sport management journals?
Generally no, unless the manuscript directly addresses organisational, administrative, or policy dimensions of coaching and athlete development. Purely physiological or biomechanical studies belong in kinesiology or sports medicine journals rather than sport management periodicals.
Sources
- North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). “Journals: Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Education Journal, International Journal of Sport Management.” Accessed November 9, 2026. https://nassm.org/journals
- European Association for Sport Management (EASM). “European Sport Management Quarterly (ESMQ) Overview and Editorial Guidelines.” Accessed November 9, 2026. https://www.easm.net/esmq/
- Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ). “Sport Management Review Overview and Information.” Accessed November 9, 2026. https://www.smaanz.org/
- World Association for Sport Management (WASM). “About WASM and International Sport Management Scholarship.” Accessed November 9, 2026. https://www.wasmorg.com/
