Data Dictionary - Participation

Field Type Description
nflverse_game_id character nflverse identifier for games. Format is season, week, away_team, home_team
old_game_id character Legacy NFL game ID.
play_id integer Numeric play id that when used with game_id and drive provides the unique identifier for a single play.
possession_team character String abbreviation for the team with possession.
offense_formation character Formation the offense lines up in to snap the ball.
offense_personnel character The positions of the offensive personnel lined up on the field for a play.
defenders_in_box integer Number of defensive players lined up in the box at the snap.
defense_personnel character The positions of the defensive personnel lined up on the field for a play.
number_of_pass_rushers integer Number of defensive player who rushed the passer.
players_on_play character A list of every player on the field for the play, by gsis_id
offense_players character A list of every offensive player on the field for the play, by gsis_id
defense_players character A list of every defensive player on the field for the play, by gsis_id
n_offense integer Number of offensive players on the field for the play
n_defense integer Number of defensive players on the field for the play
ngs_air_yards double Legacy column. For 2023 and prior years, reflects the distance (in yards) that the ball traveled in the air on a given passing play as tracked by NGS. Is NA for 2024 on–we advise instead using the air_yards column from nflreadr::load_pbp() moving forward.
time_to_throw double Duration (in seconds) between the time of the ball being snapped and the time of release of a pass attempt
was_pressure logical A boolean indicating whether or not the QB was pressured on a play
route character A string indicating the route the primary receiver on a play took. Has the following possible values: “CORNER”, “DEEP OUT”, “GO”, “HITCH/CURL”, “IN/DIG”, “POST”, “QUICK OUT”, “SCREEN”, “SHALLOW CROSS/DRAG”, “SLANT”, “SWING”, “TEXAS/ANGLE”, “WHEEL”.
defense_man_zone_type character A string indicating whether the defense was in man or zone coverage on a play
defense_coverage_type character A string indicating what type of cover the defense was in on a play. Has one of the following values: “COVER_0”, “COVER_1”, “COVER_2”, “2_MAN”, “COVER_3”, “COVER_4”, “COVER_6”, “COVER_9”, “COMBO”, “BLOWN”.
offense_names character A string listing all of the names of offensive players in the order of their gsis_ids in offense_players.
defense_names character A string listing all of the names of defensive players in the order of their gsis_ids in defense_players.
offense_positions character A string listing all of the positions of offensive players in the order of their gsis_ids in offense_players.
defense_positions character A string listing all of the positions of defensive players in the order of their gsis_ids in defense_players.
offense_numbers character A string listing all of the numbers of offensive players in the order of their gsis_ids in offense_players.
defense_numbers character A string listing all of the numbers of defensive players in the order of their gsis_ids in defense_players.