The time is long overdue to close the widening gap of disconnect between scholars and practitioners within the ever-changing sports industry. The Sports Innovation Journal (SIJ) brings together researchers and practitioners dedicated to publishing research that informs the development of innovative ideas to move the sports industry forward through collaboration, access, and relevancy.
The SIJ is different by being clear that our intended end user is the practitioner who uses our research, as well as the scholar who builds on our work with relevant questions needing asked and solved for the future of sports.
The SIJ publishes scholarly research, non-empirical commentary, and case studies as part of the Indiana University Open Access Journals, and also summarizes the articles with infographics and discusses key takeaways and implementation strategy in a podcast interview and discussion with the author(s).
Mission
This journal's mission is to create an ongoing culture of collaboration between researchers and practitioners in every aspect of the sports industry. Instead of only targeting findings to other researchers, the Sports Innovation Journal works with practitioners to better understand the problems facing the industry and then deploys researchers to study and solve those problems, becoming industry change agents.
Scope
Sport is a multidisciplinary field applied in many settings, including public, community, youth, scholastic, intercollegiate, and professional. Innovation has become a well-known term but less is known as to what constitutes innovation in different areas of sports.
Examples of content areas within the aforementioned levels of sport are listed below. This is not to be considered an exhaustive list. Authors are encouraged to use their own discretion as to what is considered an innovative research topic or question and the editorial board will provide an extra level of review.
- Business Front Office (Marketing/Sales/Sponsorship/Ticketing)
- Personnel Front Office (Roster Management/Draft/Free Agency/Salary Cap)
- Legal & Compliance (NCAA Bylaws/Collective Bargaining Agreements/Media & Employment Contracts/Gambling/Agents & Attorneys)
- Governance & Business Structure (NCAA/Olympic/League Offices/Athletic Departments)
- Media & Journalism (Broadcasting/Radio/Writing/Creative/Interviewing/Technology)
- Data Analytics (Data Visualization/Fan Experience/Moneyball/Strategy)
- Human Centered Design (Fan & Participant Experience)
- Engineering & Technology (Equipment Design/Modernized Facilities/Safety Innovations/Software Applications)
- Sports Science (Treatment/Medical Devices/Athlete Performance Measurement)
- Entrepreneurship (Start-Up Companies/Start-Up Sports Leagues)
- Tourism (Event Bids/Travel Experience/
- Philanthropy (Fundraising/Development/Donor Analytics/Athlete Charities)
Editorial Board
The editorial board consists of researchers and practitioners in various disciplines within college and professional sports to maintain a sense of balance in ensuring the journal is serving its mission, purpose, and scope.