Supporting ECSS’s mission to “disseminate high quality, innovative science and its application”, this award showcases the most innovative science published in EJSS in one calendar year. The winning paper and all nominated papers are available free to access for a limited time following our announcement of the winner until one month following the ECSS annual Congress.

Eligibility for the award

Journal articles published in the calendar year prior to the congress are eligible for the award. For example, in 2023, papers will be considered from Volume 22 (calendar year 2022).

Process

Associate Editors nominate papers from their section published in the calendar year. An editorial team review all nominations and select an overall winner.

Criteria

• Open to all age groups and career levels
• Associate Editors nominate papers for consideration according to the following criteria:

• Originality: The paper is innovative and constructively engages with new or complex problems.
• Significance: The paper makes an important contribution to the advancement of knowledge in sport science.
• Methodological rigour: The paper uses robust and appropriate methods to address the research question.
• Potential impact: The paper has the potential to alter prevailing theory or practice in sport science.

Timeline

• January to March - The Editor-in-Chief contacts Associate Editors for their nominations. The Editor-in-Chief reviews nominations and selects the best paper award winner based on the above criteria.
• April - lead authors are notified. The 1^st place award winner is invited to attend the ECSS annual congress. All papers are made free to access and are announced via ECSS channels.
• July - the 1^st place award winner is officially presented with the award on stage at the ECSS annual congress.

Award ceremony

The EJSS Best Paper Award is officially announced at the ECSS annual Congress just before the congress closing ceremony and the winner will be called to the stage. A cheque will be handed over by the Editor-in-Chief and ECSS President.

Prize money

• €1,000 (Euros) in prize money is granted to the winner of the award.
• Congress registration fees are waived for the first author of the winning paper.