A frog race is a random name picker with a lot of jumping. Each name becomes a frog in its own lane on a marshy meadow, and the course is 20 metres of damp grass and reeds. When the race starts the frogs spring forward in quick leaps, stop to sit for a moment, then jump again. Little ribbit sounds pop up along the way until one frog lands over the finish line first.
It is a quick, cheerful way to pick names in class, at a club or in a team chat. If the names already live in a spreadsheet, a document or a class roster, you do not need to retype them. Bring them in from a file or the clipboard and up to 60 frogs are ready to go.
How to run a frog race
- Paste the names, one per line, or import them from an Excel, CSV, Word or text file. You can also paste straight from the clipboard.
- Look over the list and delete any header row or blank lines. Each line is one frog.
- Pick a race length from Short, about 10 seconds, to Epic, about a minute.
- Press Start race and watch the frogs leap. The view follows the frog in front until the last one lands.
Is the frog race fair?
Yes. The moment you press Start, the page shuffles the names with your browser's crypto.getRandomValues, which gives every finishing order the same chance. That shuffle decides the result. Each frog then gets its own pattern of leaps and pauses, timed so it lands across the line at its assigned moment.
A frog that sits still for a while can still win, and nothing that happens on screen during the race changes the order. The position of a name in your file makes no difference. The list stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
Ideas for frog races
- Import a class list and pick who reads aloud first.
- Pick which team member runs the next stand-up.
- Choose the order for a spelling bee or a quiz round.
- Use it as a short brain break: everyone picks a frog and cheers it on.
Frequently asked questions
Which files can I import names from?
Excel (.xlsx), CSV, Word and plain text files all work, and you can paste a column copied from Google Sheets or any other app. Each row or line becomes one frog. Remove any header row before you race.
How many frogs can race at once?
Up to 60, each in its own lane. On a long list the frogs and their name tags get smaller, so for a large group it is easier to run a few heats and then a final.
Does the frog race make sound?
Yes: countdown beeps, little ribbits as the frogs jump and a fanfare for the winner. The sounds are generated in the browser and can be turned off in the race settings.
Can the same frog win twice in a row?
Yes, every race is a new draw. Tick Remove winner after race and the winning name is taken off the list before the next one.