Someone always thinks you rigged it. The moment Karen from accounting pulls 7-7 in your football squares pool and wins the first quarter, half the office is eyeing you sideways. The best way to never have that conversation is to assign your numbers so publicly and so randomly that nobody can question it, including you.
Here's exactly how to do it right.
The Golden Rule: Assign Numbers AFTER the Grid is Full
This is the single most important rule in running a fair football squares game, and it gets skipped more than any other.
Assign the 0-9 numbers on each axis only after every square on the grid has been claimed. Not halfway through. Not when you hit 80 squares and want to get started. After everyone has filled in their initials or names.
Here's why it matters: if numbers go on the grid before squares are claimed, late arrivals can look at which number combos are statistically hot (hello, 0 and 7 in football) and steer toward them. Even if they don't consciously do it, the perception of unfairness is enough to sour the whole thing. Fill the squares first, then draw.
If you're running a smaller pool and you can't fill all 100, see the section below on 25-square and 50-square grids.
Method 1: Drawing Numbers Out of a Hat
Old school, zero-tech, and completely defensible. Here's the exact process:
- Write the digits 0 through 9 on ten separate slips of paper (or index cards, or poker chips, or whatever you have handy).
- Fold them up, toss them into a hat, bowl, or cup. Give it a good shake.
- Draw one at a time and assign each number to the next open column along the top axis (for the away team or Team A).
- Repeat the whole process with a fresh set of 0-9 slips for the left-side axis (home team or Team B).
- Write the number on the grid as you pull it, so everyone watching can see.
The critical part is doing this live, whether that means in the room with your group or on a quick video call. A photo or short video of the draw posted to your group chat right after goes a long way toward keeping things above board.
One thing that trips people up: you need two separate draws. The columns and rows each get their own random sequence, so 0 and 3 might be adjacent on one axis but totally different on the other. Never reuse the same sequence for both.
Method 2: Use a Free Online Number Generator
If your pool is remote, your group is spread across a Slack channel, or you just want something faster, a random number generator does the same job digitally. The key is to use one that generates a randomized sequence (a shuffle of 0-9), not just a single random number.
PickMySquare has a free football squares number generator built specifically for this. It generates two separate shuffled sequences, one for each axis, and you can share or screenshot the result for your group. Takes about ten seconds.
For a general-purpose option, the random number generator tool lets you customize ranges and generate multiple results, which works well if you're doing a non-standard grid.
Why "Cryptographically Secure" Randomness Actually Matters
You might see that phrase thrown around and assume it's marketing speak. It's not.
Most basic random number generators in spreadsheets or simple apps use something called a pseudorandom number generator. It runs a math formula that looks random but is technically predictable if you know the starting "seed." For a casual pool, that probably doesn't matter in practice. But if someone is tech-savvy enough to question it, you can't fully defend the result.
Cryptographically secure random number generators (CSPRNG) pull their seed from unpredictable system-level entropy, like electrical noise or timing variations at the hardware level. The result is genuinely unpredictable, not just seemingly random. PickMySquare's generator uses this approach, which means the shuffle it produces is defensible to even your most skeptical participant.
For a casual break room pool, this probably won't come up. For a higher-stakes pool, it's nice to know you're covered.
Running a 25-Square or 50-Square Grid
Not every pool fills all 100 squares, and that's fine. Here's how number assignment works on smaller grids.
25-square grid (5x5): In the standard 25-square format, you still draw all 10 digits (0-9) for each axis, but each of the 5 row and column headers gets assigned two digits (e.g., 0+5, 1+6, 2+7, 3+8, 4+9). Each square then covers 4 possible score combinations instead of 1. The same timing rule applies: fill the squares first, draw the numbers after. The math on which score digits hit changes significantly with this format, so don't be surprised if your typical "hot" numbers don't apply the same way.
50-square grid (10x5 or 5x10): Both axes still cover all 10 digits (0-9) so every possible last digit of a score can win. The 10-slot axis gets one digit per slot, exactly like the standard 100-square game. The 5-slot axis also gets all 10 digits, but two per slot -- the same mechanism used for both axes on the 25-square grid. Decide in advance which team gets which axis and draw accordingly.
For a full breakdown of how to set up and run the whole pool from scratch, check out the guide on how to run football squares. And if you want printable grid sheets ready to go, the printable boards landing page has you covered.
Keeping It Transparent
A few small habits that eliminate 99% of disputes:
Share the grid publicly before the game. Send a screenshot or photo of the completed grid with all numbers assigned to the group chat. Give everyone a few minutes to find their squares and check. If someone thinks there's an error, better to catch it now.
Document the draw. A quick 30-second video of the hat draw, or a screenshot of the generator results, is all you need. Save it somewhere until the pool wraps up.
Never "redo" a draw. Once the numbers are assigned and shared, they stay. If you reshuffled because someone didn't like their numbers, you'd have a mutiny on your hands, and honestly, you'd deserve it.
Don't assign numbers yourself. Even if you're the organizer, don't write in numbers manually. Always use a verifiably random method, hat or generator, so there's no question of favoritism.
If you're running weekly squares during NFL season, the guide to running squares every Sunday covers the rhythm of setting up and paying out across multiple weeks. And if you're new to how the game works at all, the beginner's guide to football squares is the right place to start.
Football Squares Number Assignment FAQ
When should I assign numbers to my football squares grid?
After every square on the grid has been claimed. Assigning numbers early lets late entrants see which number combos have historically hit and pick their squares with that in mind, which isn't fair to people who already filled in blindly.
How do I randomly assign numbers to football squares without a computer?
Write 0 through 9 on ten slips of paper, fold them, put them in a hat, and draw one at a time. Do this twice: once for the top axis (away team) and once for the side axis (home team). Write each number on the grid as you pull it, in order.
Can I use Excel or Google Sheets to generate random numbers for squares?
You can, but spreadsheet RAND() functions use pseudorandom generators that are technically predictable. For a more defensible result, use a purpose-built generator like the PickMySquare squares number generator which uses cryptographically secure randomness.
Do both axes need different random sequences?
Yes. The top row (columns) and the left column (rows) each need their own independent draw. You'll end up with two separate shuffled sequences of 0-9, and they'll almost certainly be different from each other.
How do 25-square grids work with number assignment?
In the standard 25-square format, you still draw all 10 digits (0-9) for each axis, but each of the 5 row and column headers gets assigned two digits (e.g., 0+5, 1+6, 2+7, 3+8, 4+9). Each square then covers 4 possible score combinations instead of 1. The same rule applies: do the draw after all 25 squares are claimed.
Is there a free tool to generate football squares numbers online?
Yes. PickMySquare has a free football squares number generator that produces two randomized shuffles of 0-9 instantly. You can also use the general random number generator for custom setups.
Set Up Your Squares Board in Minutes
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