Apart from being a relaxing retreat, a swimming pool can also be a place to play. Pool parties are fun, and you can add a few games to make them even more exciting. Check out this list for ideas on the best swimming pool games for kids and adults.
The most fun Swimming pool games for Kids
While some pool games need props, others can be played with simple gestures or activities. It is important to choose a pool that is not too deep and always maintain continuous adult supervision.
Marco Polo
You need:
One blindfold
Here is how you can play the game:
This classic pool game is the water version of ‘It’, where you need two or more players. The game starts with choosing a person as ‘It’ and blindfolding him/her. While the ‘It’ person counts the numbers from one to ten, the other players scatter around the pool.
The ‘it’ person can shout ‘Marco’ and other players must respond by shouting ‘polo’. The Iit’ person will have to find and tag the other players by locating them through their voices and splash sounds. The player who gets caught first becomes the new ‘It’, and the game continues.
Ping Pong Rush
You need:
Two small buckets and 25-30 ping pong balls or any similar sized object that can float and two buckets to put the ping pong balls into.
Here is how you can play the game:
Divide the kids into two teams and position them and the buckets at the ends of the pool. Throw these balls in the pool and shout ‘go’. Each team has to collect as many balls as they can and the one with the higher number at the end wins.
Although, the catch here is that each player can only pick one ball at a time and swim back to the bucket placed at their end.
Treasure Hunt
You need:
Twice as many coins as players
Here is how you can play the game:
Gather up twice the number of coins as the number of players. Show them to the players and tell them to line up on the side of the pool facing away. Throw these coins into the water and direct the players to dive underwater and find them. One who finds more than two coins first is the round winner.
If the number of players is more than four, you can divide them into two teams. The team with the higher number of collected coins wins.
Freeze Tag
You need:
No props/items are needed.
Here is how you can play the game:
Not just on the ground, but freeze tag is also an exciting game in the pool. This game starts with selecting a player as ‘It’ who will start chasing other players to tag them. The tagged players will ‘freeze’ and stay put on the position unless an untagged player touches and ‘thaws’ them.
Players cannot be tagged while underwater, and you must also change the ‘It’ player after a few minutes.
Shark and Minnows
You need:
No props/items are needed.
Here is how you can play the game:
This game requires three or more players and begins with positioning one player as ‘shark’ in the deep end. The other players are called ‘minnows’ and line up in the shallow end of the pool. The game begins when the ‘shark’ chants ‘fishy fishy, come to me’.
The ‘minnows’ start swimming and try to reach the other end of the pool without getting tagged by the shark. The round ends when all the minnows have reached the end or tagged. The first minnow to get tagged becomes the ‘shark’ in the next round.
The most fun Swimming pool games for Adults
If the games mentioned above sound too easy or childish for your taste, here are a few swimming pool games for adults.
Invisi - bottle
You need:
A clear plastic bottle with preferably a cap color that matches your pool’s floor
Here is how you can play the game:
It is an interesting game that will test your underwater movement, search, and breathing skills. Start by filling up the bottle with pool water and tightening the cap. Now ask the participants to close their eyes as you throw this bottle randomly somewhere in the pool.
Once the bottle has settled down to the floor, direct the players to reach out and find the bottle. The one who gets it first is the winner.
Relay Race
You need:
Pool noodles or t-shirt(or any other holdable item)
Here is how you can play the game:
This game requires at least four and an even number of players. Start with dividing the players into teams of two each and positioning the members at each end. Hand over the pool noodles to players on the one side and shout ‘go’ when everyone is ready.
The goal is to reach their team members on the other end and hand over the pool noodle. The receiving member then swims across the pool to reach the starting point. The team which completes the lap first, wins.
Swimming pool games for adults without equipment
Hold Your Breath
You need:
No props/items are needed.
Here is how you can play the game:
All the participants dive underwater and try to hold their breath as long as they can. The person who holds their breath for the longest is the winner.
Cannonball Contest
You need:
No prop/item is needed, although a jumping board makes it more interesting.
Here is how you can play the game:
This game involves jumping into the pool, curled up as a cannonball to create a splash. Whoever creates the biggest splash is the winner of the contest.
Atomic Whirlpool
You need:
No props/items are needed.
Here is how you can play the game:
This game is not only fun, but also an incredible strength exercise for adults. The number of players needed depends upon the size of your pool, and usually needs around five people for an average small sized pool (10x20 feet).
Begin with positioning all the players along the sides of the pool and asking them to walk around the edge swiftly. After about a minute, ask them to start jogging, and ask them to run after another minute. This should create a strong current of water like a whirlpool, and when it feels strong enough, ask the players to turn around and move against the flow. If you think it’s easy, try it for once and you’ll know.
Have always the best water quality with the Sutro
You wonder what the Sutro is?
Its a pool water testing device, that tests your water 3 times a day, through that you always when you need to add chemicals to your pool.
The sutro will also notify you and tell you how much chemicals you need to add to your pool.
With that the times of testing and calculating are over.
Check out the sutro pool monitor here