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Fun Swimming Pool Games

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Fun Swimming Pool Games

Swimming pool games can turn a swimming pool into a fun playground. Here's a great collection of fun swimming pool games that are easy to learn and will provide hours of enjoyment.

You will find pool games here for kids of all ages from children to teens. There is a great assortment of water games here for swimmers of all levels.

These structured games to play in a pool will be sure to liven up any party. As well, they help to serve as fun ways to get more exercise.

So ready, set, go - dive in the waters fine!

Pool Safety Tips

swimming pool safetyFirst, it is important to discuss the importance of pool safety. Especially if there will be kids, it is critical there is plenty of adult supervision all around the pool as the games are being played.

1. Kids playing swimming pool games should never be left alone without adult supervision.

2. Rough play in or outside the pool should be discouraged.

3. Make sure everyone knows where the deep end is and the shallow end.

4. It is a good idea to gain an understanding of each person's swimming ability and the games should be structured accordingly.

5. Remember that everyone should be wearing sun block for protection.

6. Many flotation devices and blow-up toys are not to be relied upon as life saving equipment.

7. Do not allow diving in the shallow end of the pool.

8. Playing games in the pool is never advised for participants or supervisors if they have been drinking alcohol.

9. It is always a good idea if at least one adult supervisor knows CPR.

10. Keep an eye on children so they do not get overly tired and provide ample rest breaks between games.

Marco Polo--The Classic Swimming Pool Game

marco polo swimming pol gameThis is probably the most played and classic of all swimming pool games.

One player is selected to be Marco Polo. The game starts with Marco Polo closing their eyes and counting out loud to ten. During this time the other players scatter around the pool. These players cannot get out of the pool or they are disqualified.

The person playing Marco Polo must keep their eyes shut during the game. To discover the other players they shout out "Marco". The other players must reply "Polo". It does not matter where they are they must reply "Polo" or they are disqualified.

When Marco touches another player that player then becomes the new Marco.

Here's one variation. You can allow players, one at a time, to leave the pool for just a few seconds. If Marco suspects there may be a player out of the pool he/she says: "Fish Out of Water". If someone is out of the pool at this time they become Marco.

Treasure Quest

treasure quest swimming pool gameThis game is played by placing several objects at the bottom of the pool. Each player gets their turn to go under water and pick up whatever object you have placed on the pool floor.

Each time they go under water they can pick up only one object and then must surface and put it in a container at the side of the pool.

This can be played with teams as well. Just have a container on each side of the pool for each team.

Give each player a set amount of time to retrieve their treasure and then it is the next players turn.

Keep score to determine the winner.

This game has lots of variation possibilities. You can use many different items, even coins as an example or dive sticks or dive rings, to place at the bottom of the pool for collection.

Here is where you can get all sorts of Swimming Pool Dive Toys.

Everyone's a Winner

Here's a thought about pool games with regard to competition.

Everyone likes to win. But not everybody will be the best.

So how can you keep it fun and reward as many kids as possible at the end of the game?

You can have winners for different categories.

Consider awarding the person that was the slowest or funniest or the most imaginative.

You can have one or more than one winner.

Be creative and try to work it out so everyone gets recognized.

Dog Relay Race

Dog relat race swim gameThis game can be done with individual players or as teams. It is best and funniest played with teams.

In this game the participants have to dog paddle across a distance of the pool and be the first to cross the finish line.

While dog paddling along they have to carry a dog toy, bone, ball or something small that floats. It has to be carried between their neck and chin. If they drop it they have to stop and put back in place before they can continue. They do not have to start over, however.

If you have teams, it will be played as a relay race, where at each end players have to transfer the dog toy to the next player. When making the transfer they cannot use their hands.

Noodle Races

Noodle RacesThere are many variations of swimming games you can do with noodles.

A pool noodle (also known as a water log) is a cylindrical piece of polyethylene foam. They help a person with a little bit of buoyancy in water and are used for all sorts of water activities.

Having noodles races are often the most fun. You can decide if the race will be freestyle, meaning they can use the noodle in any way they choose to help them swim. Or you can specify: the noodle must be held out in front, or the noodle must be between the legs, or the noodle must be sat upon.

You can hold individual races or relay races if you have several people.

You can be creative with relay races and change how they are to use the noodle during the race when it is time for each new person. That way the teams can line their people up according to how well they think that person will do depending on the noodle requirement.

Check Out These Top Rated Pool Game Toys from Amazon!

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Rubber Duck Race

rubber duck pool toyEvery player in this game gets their own rubber duck. The objective of the game is to be the first to get their duck to cross the finish line.

The duck cannot be touched ever in the game. The only way players can propel it forward is by splashing it or creating a forward current by pushing water toward it.

This is lots of fun as all the participants try to move their duck forward and steer it in the right direction at the same time, without being able to touch it.

Variations: Depending on the swimming skill level of the players you can either make this race stay just in the shallow end of the pool or go all the way to the deep end.

Spelling Bee

spelling bee swimming gamesThis is a game played with teams. Each team is given a word they need to spell out. They get so many seconds to get the word spelled out. The other team gets so many seconds to try and guess the word.

Points are awarded if the teams spells out the word in the alotted time and points are awarded for the other team if they guess the word.

Here's where the fun comes in. The team spelling the word has to do it with their bodies. They can either be standing in the water or floating. They will use their arms legs and any body part to form the letters.

Encourage the kids to be creative and have fun with it.

Tip: You will want to think of words in advance and make sure the number of letters in the word matches the amount of players on each team.

Check Out These Colorful Fun Towels for the Pool

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Freeze Tag

Watch this video about how to play Freeze Tag in the pool.
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Swimming Pool Games on Kindle

Swimming Pool Games on KindleIf you enjoyed these swimming pool games they are also available on Amazon's Kindle.

You can take these swimming pool games anywhere your Kindle goes.

For more information on the Swimming Pool Games book on Kindle -- Take a look here.

Take a Look Here

Underwater Telephone

underwater telephone pool gameEveryone stands in a circle in the pool. One person starts with a short phrase and the tell it to the next person. The thing is they need to tell it to them underwater.

After the other person has been told the phrase under water they rise out of the water and let the person next in line know it is their turn to go underwater and hear the phrase.

This continues until everyone has had the chance to hear and tell the phrase they thought they heard.

When it gets to the last person they tell everyone (above water now) what they think the phrase is that they heard. The person that started it will also tell what the phrase was starting out.

Ping Pong Hunt

ping pong pool gameThis is a fun game for lots of players using ping pong balls. There will be two teams.

Before the game, using a permanent marker, write numbers from 1-5 on ping pong balls. That will designate the point value for each ping pong ball. Be sure to have lots of ping pong balls of many different colors.

Place an empty bucket at each end of the pool and have each team of players stand on the side opposite their bucket.

Toss all the ping pong balls out into the pool. Make sure the balls scatter all over.

On the count or three invite all the players to jump in and start collecting the ping pong balls.

They can only collect one at a time. As soon as they have collected a ball they must place it in the bucket. After placing their ping pong ball in the bucket, then they can go collect another.

At the end of a predetermined time the game ends. Add up the numbers from all the balls collected. The team with the highest total wins.

Everybody's Favorite Floating Lounger-- Perfect for Watching Pool Games!

Top Rated Pool LoungerThis is one of the Top Selling Pool Loungers on Amazon and for good reason.

Check Out Buyer Reviews Here.

This lounger puts you in the perfect position to float comfortably while reading, relaxing, socializing in the water or watching pool games. It has a comfortable backrest and extended footrest that lets you stretch out and relax for increased comfort.

The idea is simple but innovative: the inflatable perimeter suspends you in the water, while the mesh inner oval allows your weight to descend into the water, just enough to keep you cool.

With its new, patented Jet Valve, the lounger inflates in seconds. When you're ready to hit the road, the lounger deflates quickly and folds easily into a small, lightweight disk.

These are so comfortable many people get more than one, so no one has to fight over it!

Click Here to Learn More.

Secret Agent

ping pong ballsThis swim game requires many ping pong balls. It can be played by as little as two players or several. But only one person swims at a time.

The idea of the game is to make it from one end of the pool to the other, maneuvering around (and not touching) ping pong balls as if they are land mines.

Scatter many ping pong balls all throughout the area of the pool you are using for this game. If it is the shallow end, players will walk through. If it involves the deep end they will be swimming.

One player at a time swims or walks through the water to the other side, trying not to touch any ping pong balls (land mines). During this time all other players stand at the sides of the pool watching to see if any ping pong balls are accidently touched. Every time they see the swimmer touch a ball they call it out and the swimmer gets a point.

The player with the fewest points is the winner.

Pool Net Games

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Sharks and Minnows

sharks and minnows gameHere is another classic pool game. It requires several players.

In this game one person is designated as the shark. All the other players are minnows.

As the game begins all the minnows line up at one end of the pool. The shark is in the middle of the pool.

The minnows attempt to swim across the pool and once they get to the other side they are safe. But if along the way the shark touches them, they have to join his/her team. Now each time the minnows attempt to swim across the pool they have to try and evade the shark and his/her growing team.

The game is over when the last player is tagged.
fun games to play in the swimming pool

Everyone Loves Swimming Pool Games ! 

Over Under Ball Relay

over under swimming relay gameThis is a team game. Two teams form a line with players standing in the pool behind each other.

The game is played with the person at the front passing a beach ball over their head to the person behind. That person has to pass the ball between their legs to the next person. The next person passes it over their head and the next person passes it between their legs. Passing over the head and then between the legs alternates.

When the last person in line gets the ball they race it to the front where it starts again.

When the person that started is in the front position again the game is over. The first team to get that first person back again is the winner.

This game can be played in the shallow end of the pool where everyone can stand or for more advanced swimmers it can be played in the deep end where it will be much more challenging.

The Cannonball Splash

Cannonball splash pool gameThis is a classic swim game that everyone enjoys.

In this game everyone must jump into the pool one at a time and they are judged on the outcome of the splash created.

Generally the person that makes the biggest splash is considered the winner. But this is a great game to have different categories of winners. You can also judge on style of jump, funniest and audience applause, as examples.
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The best way to cannon ball is to jump as high as possible and enter the water with your rear end touching first and your knees held to your chest with your arms.

For safety, make sure there is minimal running into pool to avoid the risk of anyone slipping.

Also, this is a great game to get some really fun pictures.

Musical Beach Ball

swimming pool games with beach ballHere's a fun pool game than can be played with many kids. It is very similar to musical chairs, only played in the swimming pool with a beach ball.

To play this game have someone out of the pool controlling the music. At random times they will be stopping the music.

You will need a fully inflated beach ball for this game.

Have all the players stand in the pool at an equal distance from each other. If they stand in a circle this works best.

When the game begins, one person will have the ball and should (gently) toss it to the person closest to their left or right. That person must catch the beach ball then quickly toss it to the next person in line. It works best if you designate ahead of time the direction the ball will be thrown.

Whoever is holding the beach ball when the music stops must leave the pool and is out of the game. The game is played until there is just one remaining player, who is the winner.

What's Your Favorite Swimming Pool Game?

Favorite Swimming Pool Games
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Swimming Pool Games for Adults

swimming pool games for adultsSwimming pool games for adults can be fun and here are a few designed for moms and dads.

Granted adults at times can be a little more difficult to get off the lounge chair and into the pool to play a game, but if you can get a few going and they look like they are having fun, more adults will soon join to play swimming pool games.

A favorite is having floating casino games. Floating blackjack and floating poker games are available from pool stores and can be a lot of fun. The best ones are those that have cup holders for players can have their favorite drinks close at hand while they play. In these games the dealers float around the pool with the players as the game takes place.

Another floating game option is floating ping pong. Played just like the game on dry land this is also a favorite in the water.

Adults love inner tube tag in a pool. It can be played at a relaxed pace and can also be exciting. In this game the idea is to float around the pool like a bumper car. When the "it" person touches other players on inner tubes they are sent out of the pool. Keep in mind this is a floating game and no kicking or moving hands through the water is allowed.

For a more competitive crowd, pool volleyball is a lot of fun. This game requires at least four people a net and a ball that won't soak up the water. An inflated beach ball works great. Play this game just as you would regular volley ball and go to a score of either 11 or 21.

Thanks For Visiting

Please leave your comments. Tell me what you thought of this lens. Do you have any other pool games you would like to share? What would you like to see me add here? I look forward to your thoughts. And if you really enjoyed this lens, why not give that "LIKE" button a quick click! Thanks.

  • RJDubya Apr 30, 2012 @ 5:03 am | delete
    Great Lens - closely linked to mine on teaching pre-schoolers to swim. Am going back to figure out how to link to your lens from mine :)
  • DinaDLG Apr 10, 2012 @ 11:43 am | delete
    Great lens filled with fun ideas! Voted for the 'golfer's day/outdoor sport' quest
  • TheHealthCabin Jan 24, 2012 @ 7:24 am | delete
    I love the noodle races!! Great lens, Thank you.
  • mredway Oct 26, 2011 @ 1:52 pm | delete
    The next time I go in the pool I want to play the Spelling Bee game!
  • ClassyStuff Oct 25, 2011 @ 10:38 am | delete
    I truly enjoyed this lens....aside from playing pool games, this is an awesome exercise!
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