diff --git a/src/modality-specific-files/motion.md b/src/modality-specific-files/motion.md
index 1e151baef9..9fa8d8ffad 100644
--- a/src/modality-specific-files/motion.md
+++ b/src/modality-specific-files/motion.md
@@ -105,9 +105,6 @@ Motion specific fields SHOULD be present:
  "InstitutionName": "Fictive Institution",
  "MotionChannelCount": 18,
  "RecordingDuration": 4667.641106,
- "RotationRule": "right-hand",
- "RotationOrder": "ZXY",
- "SpatialAxes": "FRU",
  "SubjectArtefactDescription": "n/a",
  "TrackedPointsCount" : 2,
  "ACCELChannelCount": 6,
@@ -142,6 +139,9 @@ The REQUIRED columns are channel `name`, `component`, `type`, `tracked_point` an
 Any number of additional columns MAY be added to provide additional information about the channels.
 The `*_tracksys-<label>_channels.tsv` file SHOULD give additional information about individual recorded channel,
 some of which my not be found summarized in `*_motion.json`.
+To store information about reference frames for a channel, the `reference_frame` column SHOULD
+be used
+(see [Reference frame description (`*_channels.json`)](#reference-frame-description-_channelsjson)).
 
 The columns of the channels description table stored in `*_channels.tsv` are:
 
@@ -169,34 +169,73 @@ the axial components that corresponds to the three spatial axes MUST be specifie
 Restricted keyword list for column `type` in alphabetic order.
 Note that upper-case is REQUIRED:
 
-| **Keyword** | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
-| ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| ACCEL       | Accelerometer channel, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the *_channels.tsv file (x, y, or z).                                                                                          |
-| ANGACCEL    | Angular acceleration channel, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the *_channels.tsv file (x, y, or z).                                                                                   |
-| GYRO        | Gyrometer channel, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the *_channels.tsv file (x, y, or z).                                                                                              |
-| JNTANG      | Joint angle channel between two fixed axis belonging to two bodyparts. Angle SHOULD be defined between proximal and distal bodypart in deg.                                                                                             |
-| LATENCY     | Latency of samples in seconds from recording onset (see `acq_time` column of the respective `*_scans.tsv` file). MUST be in form of `s[.000000]`, where `s` reflects whole seconds, and `.000000` reflects OPTIONAL fractional seconds. |
-| MAGN        | Magnetic field strength, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the *_channels.tsv file (x, y or z).                                                                                         |
-| MISC        | Miscellaneous channels.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
-| ORNT        | Orientation channel, one channel for each spatial axis or quaternion component. Column component for the axis or quaternion label MUST be added to the *_channels.tsv file (x, y, z, quat_x, quat_y, quat_z, or quat_w).                |
-| POS         | Position in space, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the *_channels.tsv file (x, y or z).                                                                                               |
-| VEL         | Velocity, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the *_channels.tsv file (x, y or z).                                                                                                        |
+| **Keyword** | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
+| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| ACCEL       | Accelerometer channel, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the `*_channels.tsv` file (x, y, or z).                                                                                         |
+| ANGACCEL    | Angular acceleration channel, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the `*_channels.tsv` file (x, y, or z).                                                                                  |
+| GYRO        | Gyrometer channel, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the `*_channels.tsv` file (x, y, or z).                                                                                             |
+| JNTANG      | Joint angle channel between two fixed axis belonging to two bodyparts. Angle SHOULD be defined between proximal and distal bodypart in deg.                                                                                              |
+| LATENCY     | Latency of samples in seconds from recording onset (see `acq_time` column of the respective `*_scans.tsv` file). MUST be in form of `s[.000000]`, where `s` reflects whole seconds, and `.000000` reflects OPTIONAL fractional seconds.  |
+| MAGN        | Magnetic field strength, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the `*_channels.tsv` file (x, y or z).                                                                                        |
+| MISC        | Miscellaneous channels.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
+| ORNT        | Orientation channel, one channel for each spatial axis or quaternion component. Column component for the axis or quaternion label MUST be added to the `*_channels.tsv` file (`x`, `y`, `z`, `quat_x`, `quat_y`, `quat_z`, or `quat_w`). |
+| POS         | Position in space, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the `*_channels.tsv` file (x, y or z).                                                                                              |
+| VEL         | Velocity, one channel for each spatial axis. Column component for the axis MUST be added to the `*_channels.tsv` file (x, y or z).                                                                                                       |
 
 ### Example `*_channels.tsv`
 
 ```Text
-name        component   type   tracked_point   units
-t1_acc_x    x           ACCEL  LeftFoot        m/s^2
-t1_acc_y    y           ACCEL  LeftFoot        m/s^2
-t1_acc_z    z           ACCEL  LeftFoot        m/s^2
-t1_gyro_x   x           GYRO   LeftFoot        rad/s
-t1_gyro_y   y           GYRO   LeftFoot        rad/s
-t1_gyro_z   z           GYRO   LeftFoot        rad/s
+name        component   type   tracked_point   units    reference_frame
+t1_acc_x    x           ACCEL  LeftFoot        m/s^2    global
+t1_acc_y    y           ACCEL  LeftFoot        m/s^2    global
+t1_acc_z    z           ACCEL  LeftFoot        m/s^2    global
+t1_gyro_x   x           GYRO   LeftFoot        rad/s    global
+t1_gyro_y   y           GYRO   LeftFoot        rad/s    global
+t1_gyro_z   z           GYRO   LeftFoot        rad/s    global
 …
-t2_acc_x    x           ACCEL  RightWrist      m/s^2
-t2_acc_y    y           ACCEL  RightWrist      m/s^2
-t2_acc_z    z           ACCEL  RightWrist      m/s^2
-t2_gyro_x   x           GYRO   RightWrist      rad/s
-t2_gyro_y   y           GYRO   RightWrist      rad/s
-t2_gyro_z   z           GYRO   RightWrist      rad/s
+t2_acc_x    x           ACCEL  RightWrist      m/s^2    global
+t2_acc_y    y           ACCEL  RightWrist      m/s^2    global
+t2_acc_z    z           ACCEL  RightWrist      m/s^2    global
+t2_gyro_x   x           GYRO   RightWrist      rad/s    global
+t2_gyro_y   y           GYRO   RightWrist      rad/s    global
+t2_gyro_z   z           GYRO   RightWrist      rad/s    global
 ```
+
+## Reference frame description (`*_channels.json`)
+
+A reference frame specifies the origin and orientation of the spatial axes with respect to which motion data is to be interpreted.
+In case the information is available, sharing this can immensely boost the usability of shared data.
+The description of the `reference_frame` column SHOULD use the `"Levels"`
+field to describe the named field using [objects][object] with following fields.
+
+| Key name      | Requirement Level                                      | Data type  | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
+|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| RotationOrder | RECOMMENDED                                            | [string][] | The sequence in which the extrinsic rotations are applied around the three axes. One of `"XYZ"`, `"XZY"`, `"YXZ"`, `"YZX"`, `"ZXY"`, or `"ZYX"`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
+| RotationRule  | RECOMMENDED                                            | [string][] | The direction of rotation around each axis. One of `"left-hand"` or `"right-hand"`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| SpatialAxes   | RECOMMENDED                                            | [string][] | The coordinate system in which the motion data are to be interpreted. A sequence of characters from the set `{'A', 'P', 'L', 'R', 'S', 'I', '_'}` indicating the direction of each axis. For example `"ARS"` indicates positive values in the X, Y, Z axes are respectively anterior, right, and superior of the origin, while `"PLI"` indicates positive values are posterior, left, and inferior of the origin. The `"_"` character may be used for unused axes. |
+| Description   | OPTIONAL, but RECOMMENDED if no other keys are present | [string][] | A description of the `reference_frame`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
+
+### Example of `*_channels.json`
+
+```json
+{
+  "reference_frame": {
+    "Levels": {
+      "global": {
+        "SpatialAxes": "ALS",
+        "RotationOrder": "ZXY",
+        "RotationRule": "right-hand"
+      },
+      "local": {
+        "Description": "Joint angles are described following [...]"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+<!-- Link Definitions -->
+
+[object]: https://www.json.org/json-en.html
+
+[string]: https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_json_datatypes.asp
diff --git a/src/schema/objects/columns.yaml b/src/schema/objects/columns.yaml
index bd1ab1478e..446f4a0c34 100644
--- a/src/schema/objects/columns.yaml
+++ b/src/schema/objects/columns.yaml
@@ -377,6 +377,18 @@ reference__ieeg:
     - type: string
       enum:
         - n/a
+reference_frame:
+  name: reference_frame
+  display_name: Reference frame
+  description: |
+    Specification of a reference frame in which the motion data are to be interpreted.
+    The description of the levels in `*_channels.json` SHOULD use `RotationRule`,
+    `RotationOrder`, and `SpatialAxis`, and MAY use `Description` for the specification.
+  anyOf:
+    - type: string
+    - type: string
+      enum:
+        - n/a
 respiratory:
   name: respiratory
   display_name: Respiratory measurement
diff --git a/src/schema/rules/sidecars/motion.yaml b/src/schema/rules/sidecars/motion.yaml
index 981e0b3ad7..3746c3f5f0 100644
--- a/src/schema/rules/sidecars/motion.yaml
+++ b/src/schema/rules/sidecars/motion.yaml
@@ -71,13 +71,10 @@ motionRecommended:
     MotionChannelCount: recommended
     ORNTChannelCount: recommended
     POSChannelCount: recommended
-    RotationOrder: recommended
-    RotationRule: recommended
     SamplingFrequencyEffective:
       level: recommended
       description_addendum: |
         If not available, the field takes value `n/a`.
-    SpatialAxes: recommended
     SubjectArtefactDescription: recommended
     TrackedPointsCount: recommended
     TrackingSystemName: optional
diff --git a/src/schema/rules/tabular_data/motion.yaml b/src/schema/rules/tabular_data/motion.yaml
index cd7e809ae9..3f2f86ae96 100644
--- a/src/schema/rules/tabular_data/motion.yaml
+++ b/src/schema/rules/tabular_data/motion.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ motionChannels:
     tracked_point__channels: required
     units__motion: required
     placement__motion: recommended
+    reference_frame: recommended
     description: optional
     sampling_frequency: optional
     status: optional