Stellenbosch University's Department of Sport Science is not only the oldest such department in the country, but it also published the first scholarly journal in the field.
In the thirties and forties it was called Physical Education. Later it was called Vigor. The latter came to an end in 1961.
When Dr Gert Scholtz (of the Potchefstroom University for CHE) returned from America, he filled the void left by the absence of Vigor with the South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation in 1978. Since 1986 the magazine is the responsibility of the Department of Sport Science at SU. Professor Floris van der Merwe was the first editor. Since 2010, the journal is the hands of Prof Kallie van Deventer.
Contributions for the journal come from all around the world, including Korea, Iran, the USA, Spain and Portugal, said Prof Van Deventer.
"We have two issues every year, but we receive so many useful contributions that it has become necessary to bring out more issues each year. We started with seven articles per issue. Now there are 12 to 15 articles per issue. In the last issue of the year we will use 20."
Articles for publication is sent directly to Prof Van Deventer and he will read the article first.
"I look at language and technical editing. I make sure the author guidelines are adhered to. If I am satisfied, I asked an expert in the field to act as Subject Review Editor. It is the responsibility of the Subject Review Editor to get two referees to write reports on the article. The Subject Review Editor will have the final say on whether the article will be published or not."
It is important that the article is scientific and contributes to the field. "We have a high standard that we want to maintain to make sure we do not lose our ISI rating."
Another factor pointing to the success and high standard of the journal is the impact rate – it refers to how often journal articles are referred to and used for research. In 2011, the impact number was 0.167 and the most recent figure is 0.244.
