Random choice

Random team division

Gather the participants — we'll divide them into teams so that no one gets offended.

instant computed locallyup to 500 participants

Participants 12 participants

List of participants One name per line. Duplicates are removed automatically, limit — 500.

Quick set

Division mode

How many teams from 2 to 10 teams

Balance by strength The list is shuffled, then teams receive players in turn 1 → 2 → 3 and back 3 → 2 → 1: the sizes are balanced, and extra participants are not given to the same team.

12 participants · 2 teams of 6

Result haven't divided yet

— teams

— participants

— in the team

— mode

Insert the list of participants and click 'Split' — the teams will appear here.

Ctrl + Enter — split

Compositions are calculated locally in the browser: a cryptographic CSPRNG plus Fisher-Yates shuffling. Names are not sent anywhere, and the result can be reproduced or downloaded. How the generator works.

There are fewer participants than teams? It's normal: some teams will remain empty, and the occupied ones will receive one player each. We display such teams explicitly so that no one gets lost.

How to fairly divide participants into teams

The draw is the shortest way to peace in a team. When the lineup is assembled 'by counting rhymes,' by friendship, or by the captains' wishes, there is always someone who considers the division unfair. Random distribution removes the question: each participant has an equal chance of getting into any team, and the result can be recalculated and downloaded.

The tool operates in two modes. By number of teams — You specify how many teams are needed (from 2 to 10), and all participants are distributed among them. By team size — You set how many people should be in the group (from 2 to 20), and the number of teams is calculated automatically; the last team may turn out to be smaller.

Why shuffle the list

If you divide the names in order, the first numbers will always go to the first team, and the last ones — to the last team. As a result, one team will gather the "strong" participants, and the other — everyone else. Therefore, before distributing, the order is randomly shuffled: everyone has equal chances, and pressing "Divide" again gives a new composition.

What is a snake draft

The usual 'round-robin' draft looks like this: 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3… The 'snake' changes direction each round: 1-2-3, then 3-2-1, then 1-2-3 again. In board games and esports disciplines, team captains pick this way: the one who picked last gets the right to choose first in the next round.

The main effect is that with an odd number of participants, the extra player does not always go to the same team. With 12 participants and 3 teams, everyone has exactly 4 people. With 11, the teams are 4-4-3, but the "extra" is distributed in turn, rather than being assigned to the first team. Turn on "Balance by strength" to use this order, or turn it off — then participants are divided in a round-robin manner.

What to do with an odd number of participants

Leave it as is. A team with one less player is common practice in street soccer, volleyball, and board games.
Add a substitute. Let the extra participant be ready to replace any player or become a referee for one match.
Change the number of teams. For example, 11 people are better divided into 4 teams (3-3-3-2) than into 3 (4-4-3).
Rotation. Change the lineups every game — this way the underperformance does not stick to the same people.

Tips for a fair draw

Make a list in advance and check that everything is in place: the duplicate names tool removes them automatically so that one person does not end up in two teams. Agree on the rules before pressing the button — mode, number of teams, and balance. And save the result: the "Copy", "CSV", and "TXT" buttons provide a ready-made record for chat or the classroom journal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to divide into equal teams if the number is not divisible?

The teams will be completely equal only if the number of participants is divisible. In other cases, the difference is one person: we show the size of each team and mark those where there are fewer players.

How does 'Balance by power' work?

Names are shuffled and then distributed in a 'snake' pattern: 1-2-3, 3-2-1. This way, extra participants are distributed in turn, rather than ending up on the same team.

Why did the duplicate names disappear from the list?

Duplicates (including in different case) are counted as a single participant — otherwise, one person could end up on two teams and break the balance. Repeated entries are simply skipped, the remaining names are kept.

How many participants can the page handle?

Up to 500 names. For large groups, it is better to split into several sessions or use the 'by team size' mode.

Is the result really random?

Yes: a browser cryptographic generator is used and honest shuffling without biases. Each click of 'Split' or 'Shuffle again' gives a new order and a new composition of teams.

Is it possible to save the teams?

Yes. 'Copy' puts the text into the clipboard, 'CSV' opens in Excel and Google Sheets, 'TXT' is suitable for chat or printing.

The tool is intended for games, studying, and organization. It does not conduct competitions and does not replace the official drawing of a tournament.