Tournaments · Teams
Random team splitter.
Paste your names, choose the number of teams, and get fair random teams. Team sizes never differ by more than one.
Inputs
Teams
Enter at least two names.
How does the random team splitter work?
The names are shuffled with the Fisher-Yates algorithm using your browser's secure random number generator, then dealt out one at a time to each team in turn, like cards. That makes team sizes differ by at most one: 11 names into 3 teams gives 4, 4 and 3. Every name appears exactly once, and, with an unbiased random source, every ordering is equally likely.
Worked example. Nine names into 3 teams gives three teams of three. Press the button again for a new draw. Blank lines are ignored, and duplicate names are kept (two people called Sam are two entries).
The split is purely random, so it does not balance skill or keep friends together. For a skill-balanced split, order the names by rating and deal them in a snake pattern by hand, or draw the captains first. Names stay in your browser and are not stored.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a group into random teams?
Paste the names, set the number of teams and press the button. Press it again to reshuffle.
Are the teams the same size?
As close as possible. Sizes never differ by more than one, so 11 people in 3 teams are split 4, 4 and 3.
Is it really random?
Yes. It uses a Fisher-Yates shuffle with the browser’s cryptographic random number generator when available.
Can I keep certain people apart or together?
Not in this tool. It is a plain random split; rerun it until you like the result, or use the Secret Santa generator for exclusions.
Sources
Checked
Wikipedia: the Fisher-Yates shuffle combined with an unbiased random source gives unbiased results. MDN: crypto.getRandomValues returns cryptographically strong random values. Dealing names to teams in turn is simple arithmetic and is unit-tested for team sizes differing by at most one. Names are processed locally and never stored. Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent or stored.
Scope
A planning aid for casual and club events. Check your own league or federation rules for official formats, seeding, tiebreakers and pairings.