10 Swimming Pool Games to Make a Splash This Summer

Looking for some fun and exciting swimming pool games to enjoy this summer? This list of 10 games is packed with ideas that fit all ages and skill levels. From Marco Polo to a Cardboard Boat Race, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you’re at home in your backyard pool, visiting a community pool, or enjoying a vacation rental, these pool games are perfect for creating lasting memories with family and friends.

You’ll find classic favorites like Marco Polo and Noodle Jousting, alongside creative games like Invisi-Bottle and Mother Duck. Each game is designed to bring excitement and laughter to your pool time.

So, get your swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen ready! And if the water’s a bit chilly, learn how to heat a swimming pool before diving in.

Splash into summer fun without missing a beat!

A group of four children having fun with various pool toys in a blue swimming pool.

Ten Swimming Pool Games

1. Marco Polo

Marco Polo is one of the most popular and well-known swimming pool games, and for good reason. It’s simple, fun, and challenging and can be played with many players.

To play, choose one person to be “it”. That person closes their eyes and counts to ten while the other players scatter around the pool. Then, the person who is “it” calls out, “Marco!” and the other players reply, “Polo!” The person who is “it” has to try to tag the other players by observing the sound of their voices while keeping their eyes closed.

The first person who is tagged becomes the new “it”. You can also add some variations to the game, such as allowing the person who is “it” to say “fish out of water” if they suspect someone is out of the pool or allowing the other players to say “Marco” instead of “Polo” to confuse the person who is “it”.

Benefits of Playing Marco Polo:

Encourages physical activity in the pool, keeping players active and moving.
Sharpens listening skills as players rely on sound to navigate the game.
Promotes social interaction and teamwork, fostering group cooperation.
Great for all ages, making it a fun activity for families and friends.
Enhances spatial awareness as players move around the pool with limited vision.
Easy to play and requires no additional equipment, making it accessible and convenient.

2. Noodle Jousting

Noodle Jousting is a fun and competitive game requiring some equipment, but it’s worth it. You’ll need at least two rafts or kickboards and two pool noodles. To play, simply sit or kneel on your raft and use your pool noodle to joust with the other player until one of you falls off.

You can divide into teams, keep score, or have fun hitting each other with the noodles. To make it more challenging, try standing on the raft and testing your balance. Remember to establish rules before you start, such as no headshots or pushing.

Two players in the pool on rafts, jousting with pool noodles while trying to knock each other off. — Players battle it out in Noodle Jousting, testing their balance and strength in this fun pool game.

Benefits of Playing Noodle Jousting:

Improves balance and coordination as players try to stay on their rafts while jousting.
Promotes friendly competition and teamwork when playing in teams.
Enhances upper body strength by using pool noodles to push opponents.
Encourages creativity in setting up different rules and challenges for the game.
A fun way to practice pool safety by incorporating clear rules and boundaries.
Offers a playful yet challenging activity that keeps everyone entertained.

3. Invisi-bottle

Invisi-bottle is a clever game that is harder than it sounds. You’ll only need a clear plastic bottle with a white cap. Fill the bottle with water and reattach the cap before you begin. Then, get all the players lined up poolside, facing away from the pool, and throw the bottle in. The players have to jump in and try to find the bottle.

The catch is that the clear plastic bottle becomes almost invisible underwater, so you’ll have to look carefully. Whoever locates the bottle and gets it to the surface is the winner!

Players lined up by a pool, ready to jump in and search for a nearly invisible clear plastic bottle underwater. — Players dive into the pool to find the hidden bottle in the fun and challenging Invisi-Bottle game.

Benefits of Playing Invisi-Bottle:

Sharpens observation skills as players need to carefully scan the pool for the hidden bottle.
Encourages quick thinking and problem-solving while searching for the nearly invisible object.
Enhances underwater swimming abilities by motivating players to dive and explore.
Builds friendly competition in a fun and challenging way, keeping players engaged.
Improves focus and concentration as players must stay alert to find the bottle.
Simple and inexpensive to set up, requiring just a clear plastic bottle and water.

4. Mother Duck

Mother Duck is a game that involves herding ping pong balls with waves and splashes. To play, throw ping pong balls into the water and wait for them to settle. Then, divide the players into teams and assign each team a designated pool area.

The players must try to move the balls to their area by making waves and splashing without touching them. Once a ball has touched the designated wall, it can be picked up and put on the side. The team that collects the most balls winner will be declared at the end of the game will be declared the winner! Let me know if you need any further assistance.

Players splashing in a pool, creating waves to move ping pong balls towards their designated area. — In the Mother Duck game, teams work together to splash and herd ping pong balls into their area, using only water movement.

Benefits of Playing Mother Duck:

Encourages teamwork and cooperation as players work together to herd the ping pong balls.
Enhances hand-eye coordination and water control through wave-making techniques.
Promotes physical activity without heavy contact, making it a safe and fun option.
Stimulates creativity by using water to move objects without direct contact.
A great game for both kids and adults, keeping everyone engaged and entertained.

5. Change Champion/Treasure Hunter

Change Champion/Treasure Hunter is a game that requires a supervising adult out of the water and a group of strong swimmers. To play, simply throw a bunch of change (or other ‘treasure’) into the pool while all the swimmers wait out of the water.

At the start of the game, the person in charge shouts, “Go!” and all the participants dive down to collect as much as they can, either in dollar value or quantity of coins. The winner is the one who collects the most. This game is ideally played in a private pool for safety reasons, but it can be played with any number of participants.

Swimmers diving underwater to collect coins in a pool while an adult supervisor watches from the poolside. — Players dive in to collect the most coins in the Change Champion/Treasure Hunter game, combining fun with skill and friendly competition.

Benefits of Playing Change Champion/Treasure Hunter:

Improves diving and swimming skills as players search for coins underwater.
Encourages friendly competition while focusing on collecting the most “treasure.”
Enhances breath control and stamina through repeated dives.
Helps develop focus and concentration as players scan the pool for coins.
A fun and engaging way to boost physical activity in the pool for all ages.
Promotes safety awareness by requiring adult supervision.

6. Atomic Whirlpool

Atomic Whirlpool is a game that creates a strong current in the pool. To play, tell the players to get in the pool and line up in a single-file line along the pool’s edge. First, inform the players to walk around the edge of the pool.

After walking for approximately 30 seconds, instruct the players to jog around the pool’s perimeter. After about 30 seconds of jogging, ask them to start running. By this time, there should be a significant current pulling them along. Then, tell the players to stop and walk in the opposite direction.

It will be challenging to move against the current. The more players, the stronger the whirlpool. This is a great game for parties!

Players running in a circle along the edge of a pool, creating a swirling current in the Atomic Whirlpool game. — Players create a powerful whirlpool in the pool, making it fun and challenging to move against the current in the Atomic Whirlpool game.

Benefits of Playing Atomic Whirlpool:

Builds teamwork as players work together to create a strong current.
Increases cardiovascular exercise through walking, jogging, and running in the pool.
Enhances water resistance training by moving against the current.
Improves balance and coordination when trying to move in the opposite direction.
Fun and engaging group activity, perfect for pool parties with large crowds.
Encourages players to experiment with water movement and currents.

7. F-I-S-H

F-I-S-H is a game similar to H-O-R-S-E in basketball but with diving or jumping into the pool. To play, choose one person to be the leader. That person performs a dive or a jump into the pool, and the other players must copy it exactly.

Players who fail to copy the leader get a letter starting with F. The game continues until one player spells out F-I-S-H, and they are out. The last player left in the game is the winner!

Players in the pool watching the leader perform a dive, preparing to mimic the move in the F-I-S-H game. — Players take turns mimicking dives and jumps in the pool during the fun and competitive F-I-S-H game.

Benefits of Playing F-I-S-H:

Encourages creativity and coordination by performing different dives or jumps.
Builds confidence in diving and swimming techniques for all skill levels.
Promotes friendly competition while keeping the game lighthearted and fun.
Improves attention to detail as players must closely mimic the leader’s moves.
Great for playfully enhancing swimming and diving skills.
A simple game that requires no additional equipment, making it easy to organize.

8. Cannon Ball Competition

Cannon Ball Competition is a game that tests who can create the greatest splash in the pool. To play, each player takes a turn to perform a cannonball dive into the pool while the other players watch and judge.

The diver who makes the biggest splash gets the most points, and the one with the most points after everyone has a turn is the winner! You can also add variations to the game, such as different types of dives or different criteria for judging, such as style, height, or sound.

A player mid-air performing a cannonball dive, with a large splash as the water erupts upon entry, while others watch and judge from the side. — Participants compete to make the biggest splash in the fun and energetic Cannon Ball Competition pool game.

Benefits of Playing Cannon Ball Competition:

Enhances confidence in diving and jumping into the pool.
Encourages creativity as players try different techniques to make the biggest splash.
Promotes friendly competition while focusing on fun and humor.
Provides a simple way to engage all skill levels, making it inclusive.
Strengthens teamwork when players judge each other’s dives.
Great for group play at parties, keeping everyone entertained.

9. Cardboard Boat Race

Cardboard Boat Race is a game that requires some creativity and teamwork. To play, divide the players into teams and give them one hour to use cardboard boxes, scissors, packing tape, colored paper, markers, and stickers to build their best, most seaworthy cardboard boat.

Encourage the teams to get creative and ensure each boat gets a name. Have the teams put their boats in the pool when the time is up? The boat that stays the longest wins afloat! If you’re playing this game with younger kids, make sure an adult is around to help cut the cardboard.

10. Basketball and Volleyball

Basketball and Volleyball are classic sports that are even more fun when played in the pool. You’ll need a volleyball, basketball, net, or hoop. You can divide into teams, keep score, or have fun hitting the ball and shooting hoops.

These games offer hours of active fun. Contact your local pool supply store for pool volleyball nets and basketball hoops.

I hope you enjoyed this list of 10 swimming pool games to make a splash this summer. These games will keep you and your kids entertained and active in the water. Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

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10 Swimming Pool Games to Make a Splash This Summer