How to split a group into teams
- 1Add everyone's names in the box, one per line or separated by commas. You can paste a column from a spreadsheet or a sign-up sheet. The box takes up to 200 names.
- 2If your group has played our games in this browser, tap "Use saved players" to pull in the names you entered there.
- 3Under "Split by", choose "Number of teams" (2 to 8) when you know how many teams you want, or "People per team" (2 to 50) when you know the size. A live line shows how it will work out before you tap, such as "10 names make 3 teams of 3 or 4 people".
- 4Under "Team names", pick "Letters" for Team A, Team B and so on, or "Colors" for Red, Blue, Yellow, Green and more.
- 5Turn on "Pick a captain" if each team needs a leader. One random person per team gets the "Captain" tag.
- 6Tap "Make teams". Not happy with the mix? "Shuffle again" deals a completely new set.
- 7Tap "Copy teams" to paste them into a group chat or a slide. On a phone with a share sheet, "Share" sends them straight to another app.
The names are saved in this browser, so next week's game night starts with the same list. Nothing is sent to a server.
How the teams are made, and why they're fair
Captains picking players in turn is a classic, but it's slow and somebody always gets picked last. A random draw fixes both. Nobody waits to be chosen, and nobody can stack a team with their friends.
The generator shuffles your list with your browser's secure random generator, so every order is equally likely. Then it deals the names out one at a time, like cards. That keeps the teams as even as possible: when the names don't split evenly, some teams get one extra person, never more. With 10 names and 3 teams, you get one team of 4 and two teams of 3.
Every shuffle is fresh and has nothing to do with the last one. If the teams look lopsided on skill, tap "Shuffle again", or keep the draw and agree on one quick swap. Random gets you most of the way there, and a friendly swap settles the rest.
Where a team picker comes in handy
Game night
Split the room for charades, trivia or a board game played in teams. Shuffle again between games so people mix.
Classroom groups
Make groups for projects, review games or lab partners. Set "People per team" to 2 and you have pairs in one tap.
Gym class and pickup games
Two teams for soccer, kickball or basketball at the park, without the awkward line of people waiting to be picked.
Office events
Mix departments for a trivia night, a scavenger hunt or a team-building afternoon, so people work with someone new.
Family gatherings
Kids against grown-ups gets old. Random teams put cousins, aunts and grandparents on the same side for once.
Video calls
Split into groups for breakout rooms, then copy the teams into the chat so everyone knows where to go.
Team games to play once you're split
Once the teams are set, you need something to play. These work with two or more teams and a single phone.
Charades
One player acts out a prompt without talking while their team guesses against the clock. Good for two teams of three or more. Our Charades game keeps the prompts, the timer and the score on one phone.
Fishbowl
One bowl of words and three rounds: describe it, then say one word, then act it out. Best with two teams of four or more. Try Fishbowl.
Draw and guess
One player draws the secret word on the phone with a finger, and their team races to guess it. Draw & Guess has the words ready.
Captain's trivia
Turn on "Pick a captain". Teams can talk it over, but only the captain gives the final answer. The Game Show Buzzer shows which team buzzed in first.
Relay races
For field day or a backyard party, run egg-and-spoon, sack or three-legged relays. If one team is short by one, someone on that team runs twice.
Tips for teachers, coaches and hosts
- Use "Colors" for anything physical. Telling kids they're on the Green team beats reading out a list of names.
- Pairs and threes work best for class projects. Set "People per team" to 2 or 3 and the live line tells you how many groups you'll get.
- If two people share a first name, add a last initial so the teams are easy to read.
- Shuffle in front of everyone. When the group watches you tap, nobody can say you set it up.
- Teams uneven by one? Give the smaller team the first turn, or let the extra person sit out a round as the judge.
Keep score and keep playing
Once the teams are made, the Scoreboard keeps the points with big buttons for each team, and the scores survive a page reload. Running a tournament with four or more teams? The Bracket Generator builds the rounds for you.
Every tool and game here is free and runs in the browser, with no sign-up and no app. Pick a game, hand one phone around and play.
Questions
Is the team generator really random?
Yes. It shuffles the names with your browser's secure random generator, so every split is equally likely. Each tap of "Shuffle again" is a fresh draw.
What happens if the names don't divide evenly?
The names are dealt like cards, so team sizes never differ by more than one. With 10 names and 3 teams, you get teams of 4, 3 and 3.
Can I choose how many people are on each team?
Yes. Under "Split by", choose "People per team" and set a size from 2 to 50. The live line shows how many teams that makes before you tap.
How many names can I add?
Up to 200, one per line or separated by commas. Pasting a column from a spreadsheet works too.
Can it pick team captains?
Yes. Turn on "Pick a captain" and one random person on each team gets the "Captain" tag.
Can I split a class into groups of 2 or 3?
Yes. Set "People per team" to 2 for pairs or 3 for groups of three. If the class doesn't divide evenly, the live line shows how the groups will work out.
Is my list of names saved?
Yes, in this browser on this device, so it's still there next time. Nothing is sent to a server.
Is the random team generator free?
Yes. It's free, with no sign-up and no app to install.