Summer is here, and it’s time to make a splash! With the hot weather, there’s no better way to cool off than by diving into a refreshing swimming pool. Whether you’re hosting a pool party or just enjoying a day at the pool with family and friends, adding a few fun swimming pool games to the mix can take your time at the pool even more fun.
As a child I spent countless hours playing pool games with my cousins and having so much fun. Now I love watching my kids having a great time playing many of the same games.
From classic games like Marco Polo to random games like the toothpick game to sports like pool volleyball, there are countless swimming pool game options to choose from.
With so many games out there, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why I’ve put together the ultimate guide to swimming pool games. So grab your swimsuit, sunscreen, and a few friends, and get ready to dive into summer fun!
Types of Swimming Pool Games
In this post I’m going to be sharing games for kids of all ages (and adults too!). The swimming pool games I’m sharing include classic games, competitive games, creative pool games and pool games that require no equipment.
Classic Pool Games
Sometimes you just can’t beat the classics. These games have been around for decades and are still as popular as ever. Classic pool games include Marco Polo, Sharks and Minnows and Cannonball competitions.
Competitive Pool Games
If you’re looking to add a bit of competition to your pool day, these games are for you. Some competitive pool games include chicken fight, pool basket ball and water polo.
Creative Pool Games
If you’re looking to mix things up and try something new, these creative pool games are perfect. Some creative pool games include things like treasure hunt, invisible bottle, the toothpick game and pool ping pong.
No Equipment Pool Games
Some of the best pool games don’t require any special toys or equipment making them perfect for any trip to the pool. Some of these games include Marco Polo, Colors, and Tea Party
Pool Games for Kids and Adults
Pool games are great for people of all ages, but some are definitely better suited for adults or children. Before we get to our big list of pool games here are a few games that are perfect for kids and adults to play together:
- Marco Polo
- Sharks and Minnows
- Cannonball
- Treasure Hunt
- Colors
- Horse
- Monkey in the Middle
- Toothpick Game
- Chicken Fights (adults holding kids on their shoulders, just remember to keep it fun for everyone playing)
Best Swimming Pool Games
There are so many fun swimming pool and water games to choose from, below you will find a list of pool games along with how to play each game.
Raft Races
Divide your group into teams and give each team a raft made out of pool noodles or a pool float. The teams must race across the pool and back to the finish line. The first team to complete the race wins!
To make it more challenging, add obstacles like floating toys or pool noodles that the teams must navigate around. You could also make it into a relay race with each team member having to take a turn paddling the raft.
Diving Toy Hunt
Diving for toys was always one of my favorite pool games growing up. There are several different ways you can play this diving game. But first you need the pool toys hidden at the bottom of the pool.
We would always play that we had to turn our backs to the pool while someone threw the toys into the pool. Wait a couple minute for the pool toys to reach the bottom of the pool.
After the toys are in the pool we could either have someone say go and everyone search for toys at the same time or we could take turns.
Taking turns we would have a set time for each person to search for toys and see who could find the most in that amount of time. Typically the favorite was when everyone was searching at the same time trying to find the most toys.
Toothpick Game
The toothpick game is one of our family favorites for both older kids and younger kids, all you need is a toothpick to play this game. Everyone gets out of the pool and stands at the deep end while the first player takes a toothpick to the bottom of the pool.
The rest of the players all watch from the edge of the pool for the toothpick to float to the top. Once you see the toothpick jump in the pool and grab it. The first person to catch the toothpick wins and take it back to the bottom of the pool for another round.
King of the Raft
To play king of the raft you need a larger pool float (or even an air mattress). The object of the game, get everyone off the raft and be the only one still on it. If you’re the one that stays on top of the raft you are the king. But once people are thrown off they can climb back on so be sure to guard your raft.
King of the Raft is a game I remember watching my parents and aunts and uncles play as a kid and it was always so competitive and fun to watch.
Treasure Hunt
This game is great for kids and adults alike and similar to the diving toy hunt I shared above. Instead of using toys gather a handful of coins and throw it all around so it’s scattered on the pool floor.
On the count of three all players can start diving for coins. Once all the change has been found, count it up and the person with the most money wins. This is not only a fun swimming pool game it’s a great way to make pool time educational!
Obstacle Course
Create an obstacle course with pool floats you have to climb over, and random pool toys you have to use, move or avoid. The best part is that each obstacle course will look different making this a great game to play over and over again.
Pool Volleyball
Pool Volleyball is a classic game for a reason. It’s a great way to get some exercise and have some friendly competition with friends. All you need is a net and a ball.
Set up the net in the middle of the pool and divide into teams. The objective is to get the ball over the net and onto the other team’s side without them being able to return it. This game is best played in the deep end of the pool.
Before starting the game decide on the rules and what point value a team needs to reach to win the game. Pool Volleyball is a great game to play with a large group as players can take turns and you can have multiple people on each team.
Horse Races
As a kid did you ever pretend a pool noodle was a horse? Little kids will love pretending their pool noodle is a horse and racing through the pool water on their horse to win the competition.
Pool Noodle Surfing
Anther fun game to play using a pool noodle, is pool noodle surfing. This activity takes some practice and is really entertaining to watch.
Each person needs a pool noodle and the goal is to stand on your pool noodle the longest without using your hands. (you can decide if hands may be used to get positioned on the noodle.)
Pool Basketball
Pool basketball is a fun game that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. All you need is a basketball hoop that can be attached to the side of the pool or float in the pool and a basketball.
With the hoop and ball, you can play a classic basketball game by dividing it into two teams and trying to score as many baskets as possible. The team with the highest score at the end of the game wins. This game is a great way to improve your basketball shooting skills while having fun in the pool.
You can also play horse, 21 and other basketball games with a pool basketball set up.
500
500 or Jackpot is a game played using a football (this is our favorite football for the pool and beach). One player throws the ball and the other players try to catch the ball for points.
The thrower is at one end of the pool (we usually have them at the shallow end, but if you don’t have strong swimmers you can do whatever works best.) and the catchers are at the opposite end of the pool. The thrower decides what the throw is worth before throwing the ball. The person who catches the ball gets the points.
Before starting a game of 500 decide what point value a player needs to reach to win and become the thrower. This is a simple game but a lot of fun to play.
Water Fight
Squirt guns, pool noodles and water balloons can all be fun to use as part of a water fight. Be sure to remind everyone that during the water fight you still need to obey pool rules and be safe. (Water fights are usually best for a backyard pool not a public pool.)
Invisible Bottle
Invisible Bottle is a fun swimming pool game that challenges players to find a clear plastic bottle that has been tossed into the pool. The catch? The bottle is completely transparent and can be difficult to spot! Bottles with clear or white lids work best.
Players can take turns hiding the bottle and the person who finds it gets to hide it next. To make it more challenging, set a time limit for finding the bottle or add more than one bottle to the pool. This game is perfect for all ages and can be played with any number of players.
Pool Noodle Joust
Pool noodle joust is a fun and competitive swimming pool game that can be played by kids and adults alike. Players sit on inflatable pool floats and use pool noodles as jousting sticks to knock their opponents off their floats.
The last person remaining on their float wins! To make it more challenging, add obstacles to the pool or require players to use their non-dominant hand to hold their pool noodle. This game is sure to provide hours of entertainment at your next pool party.
Dodge Ball
Dodge ball is a classic game that can be easily adapted for the swimming pool. Players stand on opposite ends of the pool and throw soft, lightweight balls at each other (these are our favorite balls for the pool).
If a player is hit, they are out. The last person standing wins! To make it more challenging, add pool noodles or other obstacles to the pool. This game is great for both kids and adults and is sure to provide a fun and competitive atmosphere at your next pool party.
Monkey In The Middle
Monkey in the middle or keep away is played with 3 players and an item to keep away (a beach ball works great for this). Two of the players are going to try to keep the beach ball away from the third player (who typically stands in the middle) by throwing/hitting the ball back and forth. If the person in the middle gets the ball the last person who touched the ball now is in the middle of the game.
Wave Pool
Have you ever made a wave pool by getting in the middle of a circular pool float and going up and down? My siblings and I had so much fun trying to make waves that would go over the edge of the outdoor swimming pool.
Pool Games Without Toys
While all the pool games I shared above are a lot of fun to play sometimes you don’t have toys with you at the pool.
As a mom with 4 little ones I often don’t feel like taking all the extra toys and things to the pool so I wanted to be sure to share some fun toyless swimming pool games.
Colors
Colors is one of my personal favorite water games. To play one person is it and stands outside the pool on the deep end with their back to the pool. All other players are in the pool right behind the standing player.
At the start of each round all players in the pool pick a color, but don’t share it. The player standing on the edge of the pool starts naming colors with their back still facing the pool. When the color selected by one of the swimming players is said that person starts swimming to the other end of the pool. You want to swim as quietly as you can.
If the person standing on the edge of the pool hears you swimming they can turn around and try to catch the swimmer before they reach the end of the pool. If the swimmer is caught they become the next person to be it (stand outside the pool) if they aren’t caught the person who is “it” gets back out of the pool and continues playing. If no one is swimming when they turn around to look the standing player take one step away from the pool.
Secret Message
To play secret message one person is it and decides a word or phrase to share. All players go under water and one person says the word or phrase as loud as they can. The other players must watch the persons lips and try to guess what word or phrase was said.
Tea Party
Tea party is another pool game that I played a lot growing up. To play everyone goes under the water sits cross legged on the bottom of the pool and pretends to pour tea, stir it and drink it all before surfacing.
Goofy Races
I’m not sure if it’s a kid thing to love doing races or if it’s because I’m competitive but a favorite swimming pool game for me and many of my friends was making up goofy races. We would race from one end of the pool to the other hopping on one foot, hopping with both feet staying together, doing scissor steps and so many other goofy ways. The sillier the race the more fun we had.
Ring Around the Rosie
This is another childhood game you’ve probably played before. Playing Ring around the rosie in the pool can be extra fun as you splash each other and everyone has to go under the water when you “all fall down”.
Follow the Leader
Follow the leader is another fun childhood game that you can have a fun time playing in the pool. One person is it and gets to do different actions that all the other players need to follow.
Chicken Fights
This game is played with two teams of two. One person sits on the shoulders of the other and tries to knock the other team off their shoulders. The last team standing wins! This game is best played in the shallow end of the pool.
Talent Show
To play this game you need a judge or two, usually parents make great judges. Each participant stands outside the deep end of the pool and takes a turn doing a talent as they enter the pool. (you can do this off the edge of the pool or a diving board).
Growing up our talents ranged from front flips and back flips to diving without a splash or making the biggest cannonball. Sometimes we all did the same “talent” other times we did whatever we wanted. The judges give each participant a numbered score (for example the highest score is 10 which would be perfect so a dive could get 7 out of 10). You can play as many rounds as you want.
Simon Says
Simon says is a favorite game for many and an exciting game to play in the pool. Have one person be Simon and give actions for everyone else to do. Make sure to only do the actions where they say “Simon says do…” if they say “pat your head” without saying Simon says and you do the action your out.
Belly Flop Contest
Do you know hard it is to do a good belly flop when you want to? I was always really good at doing belly flops when I didn’t want to and then I couldn’t do very good ones when I wanted to win a belly flop contest (haha).
This game is easy simply pick a judge and have everyone take turns doing a belly flop best flop wins!
Doggy Paddle Contest
Did I mention as a kid I was competitive? I remember countless times doggy paddling at the deep end of the pool with my cousins to see who could do it the longest. Often we gave up and moved on to another game before anyone really won.
To have a doggy paddle contest go to a deep enough area of the pool that everyone can doggy paddle and then paddle away and see who can do it the longest without their face going under or giving up.
Diving Contest
I already shared a belly flop contest so it makes sense to also include a diving contest. Have everyone stand at the deep end of the pool and take turns diving into the pool. Make sure the pool is deep enough for diving before you play this game.
Growing up we would do different diving contests sometimes to see who could dive and go the farthest before surfacing and sometimes we would see who could make the smallest splash when entering the water. We also loved to see who could dive through hula hoops or swim tubes.
Cannonball Competition
This game is less of a “game” and more of a way to show off your jumping skills. The goal is to make the biggest splash possible by jumping into the pool and curling up into a ball. Bonus points for style and creativity! This game is great for all ages.
Everyone that wants to compete takes a turn jumping into the pool and doing their best cannonball splash. The person who makes the biggest splash wins! To make it more challenging, you can have judges rate each splash on a scale of 1-10. This game is sure to bring out the competitive spirit in everyone and provide plenty of laughs.
Sharks and Minnows
Yet another classic game that is always a hit. One person is the “shark” and the rest are “minnows.” The minnows start on one side of the pool and try to make it to the other side without getting tagged by the shark. If they get tagged, they become a shark and join in the tagging. The game continues until there is only one minnow left. This game is best played in the deep end of the pool, but can be modified for shallower areas.
Sharks and Minnows is a fun pool game that is perfect for larger groups of kids and adults. The rules are simple and can be adapted to all ages (and swimming abilities).
To start the game one person is the “shark” and stands in the middle of the pool, while the other players are the “minnows” and line up at one end of the pool. The “shark” calls out “minnows, come swim with me!” and the “minnows” must try to swim to the other end of the pool without getting tagged by the “shark.” If a “minnow” is tagged, they become a “shark” and join in the game. The last “minnow” standing wins!
Marco Polo
Marco Polo is a classic swimming pool game that has been enjoyed for generations, I remember playing it almost every time we went to the pool as a kid.
This game is a classic for a reason. It’s simple, fun, and can be played with any number of people. One person is “it” and they close their eyes and shout “Marco!” The other players respond with “Polo!” and the person who is “it” has to try and tag them based on their voice. If they succeed, the tagged person becomes “it” and the game continues. This game is great for all ages and can be played in both shallow and deep ends of the pool.
Freeze Tag
We all know that for kids a game of tag is always a favorite at the playground or in the pool. One of my favorite tag games was always freeze tag and we had a lot of fun playing it in the pool while I was growing up. Now it’s fun to watch my kids play all the different tag versions.
To paly freeze tag as a pool game simple pick one person to be “it” and try to tag another player as they all swim around the pool. Once tagged that playr becomes “it” and the game continues.
There are so many other fun pool games that we could add to this list but this gives you an idea of some of the best swimming pool games for pool parties, swim lessons or any pool visit.
Safety Rules for Pool Games
It’s important to remember that while pool games are fun, safety should always come first. Here are a few safety rules to keep in mind:
- Always have a lifeguard present if possible
- Never run around the pool deck or push people into the pool
- Make sure all players know how to swim before playing any games in the deep end of the pool
- Avoid playing any games that involve diving or jumping into the shallow end of the pool
- Always have a first aid kit on hand in case of any injuries
- Never Swim Alone!
Make sure to know the rules for the pool you are swimming at and also your families water/pool safety rules.
Necessary Equipment for Pool Games
Most pool games require minimal equipment, but here are a few things you might want to have on hand:
- Volleyball and/or basketball
- Net for volleyball and/or basketball
- Diving toys
- Coins or small objects for treasure hunt
- Goggles
- Beach Ball
- Pool Noodles
- Pool Floats
Swimming pool games are a great way to add some fun and excitement to your pool day. Whether you’re playing classic games like Marco Polo or trying out something new like pool volleyball, there are countless options to choose from. Just remember to always put safety first and have fun!
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