Random Team Generator

Add one participant per line, choose the number of teams, then select Generate. WheelSpinnerNow shuffles the list before dealing participants across the groups in turn.

This round-robin distribution keeps group sizes as even as possible. When the number of people cannot divide perfectly, only the unavoidable one-person difference remains between teams.

For example, 23 students split into 4 teams gives groups of 6, 6, 6 and 5. Because names are dealt in order after the shuffle, the extra members always go to the lowest-numbered teams, but who ends up on those teams is entirely random.

The generator first shuffles the whole list with the Fisher–Yates algorithm, using your browser’s Web Crypto random-number generator to choose each swap. Fisher–Yates is the standard method for an unbiased shuffle: every possible ordering is equally likely, which means every person is equally likely to land on any team and alongside any teammates.

It then deals the shuffled names one at a time across the teams, like dealing cards around a table, until everyone has been assigned. Generate again whenever you want a fresh combination of groups.

Weights do not apply to teams. If a line contains a weight such as Ana | 3, the number is ignored and Ana is placed once, just like everyone else. Duplicate lines, however, are treated as separate people, so remove them before generating.

Start from the activity rather than the head count. Pair work, a discussion circle and a five-a-side match need very different group sizes, and the generator only needs to know how many teams you want.

If you need groups of roughly a fixed size, divide the number of people by that size. For 26 people in groups of about four, choosing 6 teams gives two groups of five and four groups of four. Choosing 7 teams instead gives five groups of four and two groups of three. Pick whichever leftover pattern suits the activity better. If you choose more teams than there are people, some teams will be empty, so check the number before you generate.

Random assignment is fair in the sense that nobody picks favorites, and nobody is left standing while captains choose. It does not, however, balance skill, experience or personalities. For a casual game that unpredictability is part of the fun. For a graded project or a competitive match, a little structure helps.

One simple technique is to generate in stages. If every team needs one experienced player, enter only the experienced players and generate teams first. Then enter everyone else, generate the same number of teams again, and combine Team 1 with Team 1, Team 2 with Team 2, and so on. Each team still receives a random selection from both groups.

Randomly assigning people can save time and remove the perception of favoritism. Use the generator to make groups in seconds while keeping the process visible to the whole group.