Corrections and Retractions

Corrections and Retractions Policy

Jurnal Ilmiah Sport Coaching and Education (JSCE), Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ) is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of the scholarly record in sport coaching, sport science, physical education, and related disciplines. When errors, ethical concerns, or research misconduct are identified in a published article, the journal addresses them through formal and publicly accessible notices.

This policy explains the types of notices used by JSCE, the procedures for withdrawing manuscripts before publication, the steps for issuing corrections and retractions, and the process for submitting requests or reporting concerns.

This policy follows the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Retraction Guidelines, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations, and the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) Recommended Practice for the Communication of Retractions, Removals, and Expressions of Concern (CREC). It should be read together with the journal's Research Misconduct and Publication Integrity Policy and Post-publication Discussion Policy, where applicable.

Guiding Principles

  1. The published version of record must not be altered silently.

  2. Corrections and retractions aim to maintain the accuracy of the scholarly record, not to punish authors.

  3. Honest errors must be distinguished from research misconduct.

  4. Authors must be consulted whenever reasonably possible, but the final editorial decision rests with the journal.

  5. Formal notices must be transparent, citable, and linked to the original article. The journal will update publication metadata and notify relevant indexing services where applicable.

Part 1. Withdrawal Before Publication

  • Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript at any stage before acceptance by submitting a written request to the Editor-in-Chief. The request must state the reasons for withdrawal and be signed or confirmed in writing by all authors.

  • A manuscript is considered withdrawn only after the journal confirms the withdrawal in writing. Until that confirmation is received, authors must not submit the same manuscript to another journal.

  • Withdrawal after acceptance is permitted only for compelling reasons, such as the discovery of a serious error, a significant ethical problem, or another circumstance that makes publication inappropriate. The withdrawal requires the editor's approval.

  • An article that has already been published online, including as an early online publication, cannot be withdrawn as though it had never been published. Any necessary changes must be handled through a formal correction, retraction, or removal procedure under this policy.

  • If research misconduct is suspected, the journal may continue its investigation under the Research Misconduct and Publication Integrity Policy, even if the manuscript has been withdrawn.

Part 2. Types of Notices

The published version of record is maintained transparently. Material changes affecting an article's content, interpretation, reliability, or citation must be documented through an appropriate formal notice.

Where technically supported by the journal's publishing platform and DOI registration arrangements, each notice will receive its own DOI, be linked to the original article, and be included in the relevant metadata. The original article will remain accessible with a clear indication of its current status, except where removal is justified under Part 2.6.

2.1 Erratum (Publisher's Correction)

An erratum is issued when a significant error is introduced by the journal during editorial processing, copyediting, typesetting, or publication.

Examples include incorrect author names, affiliations, figures, tables, or publication metadata that materially affect the accuracy or citation of the article.

Action: The journal corrects the affected article file or metadata, where appropriate, and publishes an erratum describing the error and the correction.

2.2 Corrigendum (Author's Correction)

A corrigendum is issued when an author-related error affects the scholarly record but does not invalidate the main findings or conclusions.

Examples include an incorrect data value, table, figure, reference, author affiliation, funding statement, or conflict-of-interest disclosure.

In JSCE's subject areas, this may include an error in a reported fitness-test result, training protocol, participant description, statistical value, or sport-performance measurement, provided that the error does not invalidate the article's main conclusions.

Minor typographical, punctuation, or formatting errors that do not affect understanding, interpretation, or citation will not normally require a formal notice.

If an error invalidates the conclusions, the editor will consider whether retraction is necessary. When an honest error has occurred but a valid corrected analysis can be established, the journal may consider retraction with replacement, where appropriate and technically supported.

2.3 Changes to Authorship

Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors after publication must include:

  • A clear explanation of the requested change.

  • Written agreement from all authors, including any author whose name is to be removed.

  • An updated description of author contributions, using the CRediT taxonomy where applicable.

  • Any additional documentation required by the editor to establish the legitimacy of the change.

If approved, the change will be documented through a corrigendum or another appropriate formal notice.

If authors disagree, JSCE will not adjudicate the authorship dispute itself. The matter may be referred to the relevant institution or institutions for investigation. The published authorship will not be changed until the dispute is resolved or sufficient authoritative information is available.

Requests to change an author's name for personal reasons, including marriage or gender transition, should be handled respectfully and confidentially. Where technically possible and consistent with the author's wishes, the journal may update the article and metadata discreetly without issuing a public notice.

2.4 Expression of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when serious questions arise about an article's reliability, integrity, or ethical compliance, but the available evidence is inconclusive or an investigation is ongoing.

Examples may include unresolved concerns about athlete-consent documentation, the authenticity of fitness-test data, the integrity of reported training interventions, participant safety, or the ethical approval of a study.

An expression of concern may also be appropriate when an institution has been asked to investigate but has not completed its investigation within a reasonable period.

Action: The journal publishes a factual notice explaining the nature of the concern without presenting unproven allegations as established findings. Once the matter is resolved, the journal may issue a correction, retract the article, or publish an update stating that the concern has been resolved.

2.5 Retraction

Retraction may be considered when the reliability or integrity of a published article is seriously compromised, including in cases involving:

  • Findings that are unreliable because of major error, data fabrication, or data falsification.

  • Plagiarism or redundant publication.

  • Unethical research or unauthorised use of data.

  • Serious violations involving research participants, including athletes, children, students, or other vulnerable participants, where the violation undermines the legitimacy or ethical acceptability of the research.

  • Compromised or manipulated peer review.

  • Failure to disclose a major conflict of interest that materially affected the research or editorial decision.

  • Other serious breaches of research integrity that make the article unreliable or inappropriate to remain in the scholarly record without a retraction notice.

Authors may request retraction, or the editorial team may initiate the process. The Editor-in-Chief makes the final editorial decision after reviewing the evidence and giving the authors a reasonable opportunity to respond. Authors' agreement is sought where possible, but the journal may proceed with retraction when the evidence justifies it, even if the authors disagree or do not respond.

Action:

  • The article will normally remain accessible, with a clear "RETRACTED" label or watermark, as appropriate.

  • A retraction notice will be published, stating the reason for retraction, who initiated the process, and whether the authors agree with the decision.

  • The article's publication metadata and status will be updated where technically supported.

  • The notice will be linked to the original article and communicated to relevant indexing services where applicable.

The wording of the notice must be factual, proportionate, and non-defamatory. It must distinguish honest error from misconduct where the available evidence permits that distinction.

2.6 Removal

Removal is reserved for exceptional circumstances in which retaining the full article online creates a serious legal or safety concern. Examples include:

  • Material that is clearly defamatory or infringes legally protected rights.

  • A valid court order or other binding legal requirement.

  • Publication of identifiable personal or sensitive information that creates a serious risk to research participants or the public.

  • Other exceptional circumstances in which continued public access would create a demonstrable and serious risk.

Removal must not be used merely to avoid embarrassment or because an article has been criticised.

Action: Where removal is legally and technically necessary, the full text may be withdrawn from public access. A notice containing the article's title, authors, DOI or citation details, and the reason for removal will remain available where legally permissible.

Part 3. Choosing the Appropriate Action

Situation Appropriate action
Minor typographical or formatting error that does not affect meaning or citation No formal notice normally required
Significant error introduced by the journal Erratum
Significant author-related error, with conclusions remaining valid Corrigendum
Serious unresolved concern or ongoing investigation Expression of concern
Honest error that invalidates the conclusions, where valid corrected findings are available Consider retraction with replacement
Unreliable findings, plagiarism, duplicate publication, serious ethical violations, or compromised peer review Retraction, where justified
Serious legal infringement, court order, or demonstrable safety risk Removal in exceptional circumstances

The editor will consider the evidence, the seriousness of the problem, its effect on the findings, and the most appropriate means of correcting the scholarly record. These categories are guidance rather than an exhaustive list of possible editorial actions.

Part 4. Step-by-Step Procedure for Corrections

Step 1. Submission of a Request

The corresponding author, acting on behalf of the authors, or any reader may contact the editorial office to report an error in a published article.

The request should use the subject line "Correction Request – [Article DOI]" and include:

  • The article title, full citation, and DOI, if available.

  • The exact location of the error, such as a page, paragraph, line, table, or figure.

  • The incorrect text, value, table, or figure.

  • The proposed corrected text, value, table, or figure.

  • An explanation of how the error occurred and whether it affects the results, interpretation, or conclusions.

  • For author-initiated requests, confirmation that all co-authors agree to the proposed correction.

Step 2. Acknowledgement

The editorial office will aim to acknowledge receipt within seven working days.

Step 3. Assessment

The editor will assess the significance of the error and its potential impact on the article. The editor may consult the authors, original reviewers, an independent subject expert, or other relevant parties.

The editor will determine whether the matter requires no formal action, an erratum, a corrigendum, an expression of concern, or consideration of retraction.

Step 4. Drafting the Notice

The editorial office will prepare a notice in clear, factual language. The notice should cite the original article, identify the error, and provide the correction.

For a corrigendum, authors will normally be asked to review the proposed wording within 14 days. Editorial responsibility for the final notice remains with the journal.

Step 5. Publication and Article Update

The notice will be published online once approved. Where appropriate and technically supported, the corrected article file may also be made available with a visible note identifying the date and nature of the correction.

The original version must not be replaced or modified without a transparent record of the change.

Step 6. Linking and Indexing

The journal will link the notice and the original article in both directions where technically possible. Metadata will be updated with the DOI registration agency and relevant indexing services where supported by the journal's publishing arrangements.

Crossmark status updates may be used if the journal participates in Crossmark and the relevant infrastructure is available.

Step 7. Issue Inclusion

Where applicable, the notice will be included in the next available issue and listed in its table of contents.

Step 8. Closure

The journal will inform the relevant parties of the outcome. Corrections will normally be completed within 60 days of the decision, depending on the complexity of the case, the authors' cooperation, and production requirements. Cases involving possible research misconduct or institutional investigations may take longer.

Part 5. Step-by-Step Procedure for Retractions

Step 1. Initiation

A retraction process may be initiated by the authors, an institutional investigation, the journal's assessment under its Research Misconduct and Publication Integrity Policy, or credible information from another journal, publisher, institution, or reader.

Step 2. Assessment of Evidence

The editors will assess the evidence and may consult independent experts, the editorial board, the relevant institution, or appropriate publication-ethics guidance.

The journal will determine whether retraction is justified or whether a correction or expression of concern would be more proportionate.

Step 3. Consultation with Authors

The editor will inform all authors of the proposed retraction, explain the reasons, and invite a response, normally within 30 days.

Where possible, the wording of the retraction notice will be discussed with the authors. If the authors disagree or do not respond, the journal may proceed based on the available evidence and will accurately describe the authors' position where relevant.

Step 4. Editorial Decision

The Editor-in-Chief will make the final editorial decision and document the basis for that decision.

If the Editor-in-Chief has a conflict of interest, the matter must be handled by an appropriate independent senior editor or authorised representative of the publisher.

Step 5. Publication of the Retraction Notice

The notice will be titled "Retraction: [Article Title]" and will include:

  • The full citation and DOI of the retracted article.

  • The reason for retraction, stated clearly and factually.

  • Who initiated the retraction.

  • Whether the authors agree, disagree, or did not respond.

  • A distinction between honest error and misconduct where supported by the evidence.

The notice must be publicly accessible wherever possible and must not contain unsupported or defamatory statements.

Step 6. Marking the Article

The retracted article will normally remain accessible for the transparency of the scholarly record. A clear "RETRACTED" label will be displayed on the article landing page and, where technically possible, a watermark will be added to each page of the PDF.

The original article page will link to the retraction notice, and the article's status will be updated in the available metadata.

Step 7. Registration and Indexing

The retraction notice will receive its own DOI and be linked to the original article where DOI registration arrangements permit. The journal will notify relevant indexing services and update metadata where applicable.

Step 8. Communication

The journal will inform the authors and, where relevant and appropriate, the person who raised the concern, the authors' institutions, and the funders.

Step 9. Timing

The journal aims to publish a retraction as soon as reasonably possible, normally within 30 days after the final decision. The timeline may be extended where additional verification, legal review, or institutional investigation is necessary.

Part 6. Model Wording for Notices

The following examples are templates. The final wording must reflect the actual facts of each case.

6.1 Corrigendum

Correction to: [Article Title]

"[Authors] ([Year]). [Article Title]. Jurnal Ilmiah Sport Coaching and Education, Volume, [Pages]. https://doi.org/[DOI].

In the original article, [describe the error and its location]. The correct [text/value/table/figure] is as follows: [provide the correction]. This correction [does not affect the main findings or conclusions / affects the interpretation in the following way: ...]. The authors apologise for the error."

6.2 Expression of Concern

Expression of Concern: [Article Title]

"The editors of Jurnal Ilmiah Sport Coaching and Education are issuing this expression of concern regarding [full citation and DOI] because questions have been raised concerning [describe the concern factually]. [The relevant institution has been asked to investigate / An investigation is ongoing / Further information is being assessed.] Readers are advised to interpret the article with caution while the matter is being assessed. The journal will provide an update when further information becomes available."

6.3 Retraction

Retraction: [Article Title]

"The following article has been retracted at the request of [the authors / the editors]: [full citation and DOI]. Following [an investigation / an editorial assessment / information provided by ...], the journal has determined that [state the reason factually]. The retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record. The authors [agree with / disagree with / did not respond to] the retraction."

6.4 Erratum

Erratum: [Article Title]

"In the published version of [full citation and DOI], an error was introduced during the journal's production process. The error appears in [location] and concerns [brief description]. The correct information is [correction]. The journal apologises for this production error."

Part 7. How to Submit a Request

7.1 Who May Submit?

  • Withdrawal before publication: The corresponding author, with written agreement from all co-authors.

  • Correction or retraction requested by authors: The corresponding author, acting on behalf of all authors and providing the required agreement.

  • Report concerning a published article: Any person, including readers, reviewers, researchers, institutions, and editors.

7.2 Submission Channels

Requests should be submitted through the journal's official editorial contact channel or, where available, through the discussion function in the journal's OJS platform.

For manuscripts still in the editorial workflow, authors may log in to OJS, open the relevant submission, and use the discussion function to contact the editor. The request letter and supporting documents should be attached.

The following subject lines are recommended:

Request Subject line
Withdrawal of a submitted manuscript Withdrawal Request – [Submission ID] – [Short Title]
Correction of a published article Correction Request – [DOI]
Retraction requested by the authors Retraction Request – [DOI]
Report of an error or concern Error/Concern Report – [DOI]

7.3 Required Documents and Information

Depending on the type of request, the journal may require:

  • The submission ID or the full citation and DOI of the published article.

  • A request letter from the corresponding author.

  • Written confirmation of agreement from all authors for author-initiated withdrawal, correction, or retraction requests.

  • For corrections, the location of the error, incorrect text or data, proposed correction, cause of the error, and an explanation of its impact on the findings or conclusions.

  • Corrected tables or figures in an appropriate publication format.

  • For retractions, an explanation of the problem and supporting evidence, such as a corrected analysis, institutional findings, or relevant documentation.

  • For reports from readers, specific evidence that enables the journal to assess the concern.

The journal may request additional information where necessary. Personal or sensitive participant information should not be sent unless essential to the assessment and should be handled securely.

7.4 Request Letter Templates

A. Withdrawal of a Submitted Manuscript

To: Editor-in-Chief, Jurnal Ilmiah Sport Coaching and Education
Subject: Withdrawal Request – [Submission ID] – [Short Title]

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

On behalf of all authors, I request the withdrawal of our manuscript entitled "[Manuscript Title]" (Submission ID: [ID]), submitted on [date].

Reason for withdrawal: [Explain the reason clearly.]

All co-authors have agreed to this request, and their written confirmations are attached. We understand that the manuscript is considered withdrawn only after the journal confirms the withdrawal in writing. We will not submit the manuscript to another journal before receiving that confirmation.

Sincerely,

[Name of Corresponding Author]
[Affiliation]
[Email] | [ORCID]
[Date]

B. Correction of a Published Article

To: Editor-in-Chief, Jurnal Ilmiah Sport Coaching and Education
Subject: Correction Request – [DOI]

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

On behalf of all authors, I request a correction to the following article:

[Authors] ([Year]). [Article Title]. Jurnal Ilmiah Sport Coaching and Education, Volume, [Pages]. https://doi.org/[DOI]

  1. Location of the error: [Page, paragraph, line, table, or figure]

  2. Incorrect information: [Quote or describe the original information]

  3. Correct information: [Provide the proposed correction]

  4. Cause of the error: [Explain how the error occurred]

  5. Effect on findings or conclusions: [State whether the findings or conclusions are affected and explain how]

All co-authors have agreed to this request, and their written confirmations are attached.

Sincerely,

[Name of Corresponding Author]
[Affiliation]
[Email] | [ORCID]
[Date]

C. Retraction Requested by the Authors

To: Editor-in-Chief, Jurnal Ilmiah Sport Coaching and Education
Subject: Retraction Request – [DOI]

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

On behalf of all authors, I request the retraction of our article:

[Full citation and DOI]

Reason for retraction: [Describe the issue, such as a major analytical error that invalidates the findings, an ethical concern, or substantial overlap with a previous publication.]

Nature of the problem: [Honest error / suspected or confirmed misconduct / other; explain the circumstances.]

Supporting evidence: [List the attached documents or other evidence.]

Corrected findings available: [Yes / No. If yes, explain whether retraction with replacement may be appropriate.]

All co-authors have agreed to this request, and their written confirmations are attached.

Sincerely,

[Name of Corresponding Author]
[Affiliation]
[Email] | [ORCID]
[Date]

Part 8. How Notices Appear to Readers

  • Article landing page: The journal will display a clear status label, such as "Corrected", "Expression of Concern", or "Retracted", and provide a link to the relevant notice.

  • PDF: Where technically possible, a correction note will be added to the corrected version, and a retracted article will carry a visible "RETRACTED" watermark on each page.

  • Journal issue: Where applicable, formal notices will be listed in the table of contents of the relevant issue.

  • Metadata and indexing: The journal will update DOI metadata and notify relevant indexing services where supported by the journal's publishing arrangements.

  • Transparency: The journal will preserve an appropriate record of the original publication and subsequent notices, subject to legal and participant-safety requirements.

Part 9. Timeline Summary

The following are target timelines rather than guarantees. Complex cases, author non-response, legal concerns, or institutional investigations may require additional time.

Stage Target time
Acknowledgement of a request or report 7 working days
Author review of a proposed corrigendum 14 days
Authors' response to an intended retraction 30 days
Publication of a correction after final approval Normally within 14 days, subject to production requirements
Publication of a retraction after the final decision Normally within 30 days
Overall completion of a correction case Normally within 60 days of the decision, excluding complex investigations

Part 10. Frequently Asked Questions

Can authors upload a corrected file themselves after publication?
No. Changes to a published article must be authorised and documented by the journal through an appropriate formal process.

Will a correction necessarily damage an author's reputation?
No. Correcting an honest error is part of responsible scholarly publishing. The journal assesses the circumstances and the impact of the error rather than treating every correction as misconduct.

Can a retracted article still be accessed or cited?
The article will normally remain accessible with a clear retraction label so that the scholarly record remains transparent. Anyone citing it must acknowledge its retracted status and should explain why the citation is necessary.

Is there a fee for corrections or retractions?
JSCE does not impose a correction or retraction fee under this policy. Any other publication charges, if applicable, must be described separately in the journal's official fee policy.

What happens if co-authors disagree?
The journal will consider the available evidence and may refer authorship disputes or institutional matters to the relevant institution. A lack of agreement does not automatically prevent the journal from correcting or retracting an article when the evidence justifies action to protect the scholarly record.

Can a withdrawn manuscript be submitted elsewhere?
Yes, after the journal has confirmed withdrawal in writing, provided that no other ethical, contractual, or research-integrity concern prevents resubmission.

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