Random Team Generator
Every teacher, coach and facilitator knows the ritual: 24 names, 4 teams, and the suspicion that the draw wasn't quite random. Paste the list - one name per line - choose how many teams, press Shuffle, and this generator deals everyone out using cryptographically secure randomness from your own device, with team sizes balanced to within one person and the roster preserved for the next session.
The balance line shows the exact distribution (2 teams of 7 and 2 of 5, for instance), and re-shuffling costs one click - no recutting strips of paper. The share button packages the full draw as text for the group chat, with a link that carries the name list so colleagues can re-run it on their side. It joins the coin flip, dice roller and random number tools for every decision that should not be yours to make.
How to use
- Paste or type the names, one per line.
- Set the number of teams and press Shuffle.
- Read the teams, re-shuffle if needed, or share the draw to the group chat.
Frequently asked questions
How does the team generator stay fair?
Two parts: the shuffle uses the browser's cryptographic random source - the same one that guards web security - so every arrangement is equally likely, and the dealing round-robins the shuffled names so team sizes differ by at most one. No weighting, no seeding, no favorites.
Can I make uneven teams on purpose?
Not directly here - balance is the point. If you need a 5-and-2 split for a scrimmage, run two draws or move one name by hand after shuffling; the honest randomness has already done its job by that point.
Are my names sent anywhere?
No - the list never leaves the browser. Names are stored only in your own device's local storage so the next session starts where this one ended, and clearing the browser clears them.
Can it pick one winner instead of teams?
For single draws use the random name generator; for yes/no decisions the coin flip; for order-of-play questions shuffle here and read the first team as the order. Same cryptographic engine underneath all of them.