In a 12-person snake draft, the selection order reverses every round. This means if a participant selects first in the initial round, they will pick last in the second round, first again in the third, and so on. For instance, if someone has the fourth selection in round one, they would have the ninth pick in round two (12 + 1 – 4 = 9). This alternating pattern continues throughout the draft.
The snake draft format promotes competitive balance by allowing each participant an opportunity to acquire top-tier selections within the cyclical draft order. This prevents any single participant from dominating the early rounds and accumulating a disproportionate advantage. Historically, snake drafts have been a popular method for selecting teams in various activities, including fantasy sports, informal games, and even project team assignments, due to its inherent fairness and ease of implementation.