20 Fun Pool Games For Kids & Adults
Published Sept. 20, 2022
Summer is the best time of the year to make memories with your family. One of the best ways to do this is by playing fun swimming pool games. In this article, I’ll suggest 20 fun pool games that children, teens, and adults can all play while beating the hot summer heat.
1. Underwater Obstacle Course
You can make a DIY underwater obstacle course using swimming rings. Such rings remain in place at varying depths thanks to their adjustable air chambers.
People of any age who know how to swim can partake in this fun pool game. If anything, this is especially true for individuals with competitive mindsets.
2. Swimming Pool Basketball
Playing basketball during summer can be very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous due to the heat. Luckily though, pool basketball exists as an excellent alternative.
To play the game, all you’ll need is a water ball and a splash hoop. It’s possible to play one-on-one. However, for a funner and more competitive game, we suggest playing in teams.
3. Human Submarine Race
A human submarine race is one of the most fun pool games for teenagers and kids. The game requires endurance and skill when it comes to swimming. Its rules are incredibly simple as the first person who swims the furthest or fastest without emerging for air is the automatic winner.
4. Cannonball
Cannonball is one of the most popular swimming pool games for good reason. It’s a simple yet extremely fun game that can be played by almost anyone. Furthermore, it can be played alone.
When playing with others, the goal of cannonball is to beat your opponents by creating a bigger and better splash while doing theatrics like backflips.
5. Treasure Dive
Children are going to love playing treasure dive! This simple game involves throwing “treasure” in the pool while the kids aren’t looking and having them dive to look for that treasure. The first child to find the treasure is the winner.
6. Swimming Pool Volleyball
Pool volleyball is a fun pool game for teens and kids alike. It’s just like volleyball but harder as maneuvering in the water is a lot more challenging.
Now with that out of the way, to play this game, you shall need a pool volleyball set. Don’t worry since such sets are widely available online or at toy or watersports stores for cheap.
7. Air Ball
You’d be surprised how much a water ball filled with helium can be. To play this game, all you’ve got to do is keep the ball in the air as long as possible.
In comparison to other pool games, this one is safer. As such, it’s the perfect game to play along with younger children who haven’t fully mastered their swimming skills yet.
8. Invisible Bottle Hunt
This game is very similar to treasure dive, except that it’s much harder. Instead of seeking out treasure, participants will have to search for a sunken transparent bottle filled with pool water.
9. Handstand Pool Contest
Handstanding on the ground is difficult but it isn’t in the water. Needless to say, you can only handstand underwater for so long before getting out of balance or running out of breath.
Due to that, a pool handstand contest isn’t just a fun pool game. It’s also a test of balance and lung endurance, making it perfect for competitive individuals.
10. Pool Floatie Race
Any kind of floatie can be used for a race. However, we recommend using sharks, dolphins, and even dragon floaties to make the game more enticing to children and teenagers.
The rules of this game are simple. All one needs to do is choose a floatie and “sail” it over to the other side of the swimming pool. Whoever comes first is the instant winner.
11. Belly Flop Competition
A belly flop competition is just like cannonball.
The only difference between the two is that belly flop competitions don’t have the theatrics that cannonball has. For a person to win, all they need is to make the biggest splash possible.
12. Underwater Charades
Charades has long been a fun family activity. Sadly, it can get boring after some time. But what if I told you that you can make charades much more fun by simply playing it underwater.
You see, underwater charades is much harder than normal charades because a person can only make gestures underwater for so long. As a result, the guesser will need to think faster.
13. Chicken Fight
A chicken fight is one of the most fun pool games that you can play. Trust me, although its name might not seem enticing, it really is. For the chicken fight to be played, you’ll need at least four players. To win it, you will need to knock your competitor off who they’re piggyback riding on.
14. Swimming Pool Tug Of War
Pool tug of war is a classic pool game that’s been played for decades. You’ll need at least six individuals divided into two teams. The goal will be to pull a rope and eventually get the opponent team to fall into the swimming pool without having your team fall also.
15. Water Ballon Fight
Water balloon fights were once messy affairs. Thankfully, the invention of the unbreakable water balloon has changed this activity for the better. Contrary to their name, such balloons are not actually balloons but rather super absorbent sponges that provide a splash once thrown.
Everyone from little kids to adults can enjoy a water balloon fight. Also, there aren’t any set rules for the game. You can play in teams or have a free for all with every man for himself.
16. Rubber Duck Race
To play this pool game, all you need to do is line up the participants at one end of the swimming pool with their designated rubber ducks. Following that, the goal will be to get the rubber duck to the other end of the pool without touching them with hands.
You may move the ducks by splashing, blowing, and pushing them with your head. Needless to say, this game is extremely fun and hilarious, especially for kids.
17. Floating Apples
Another hilarious and incredibly fun pool game is floating apples.
This game involves an apple being thrown into the pool where participants will have to fight over it and get it to the edge of the swimming pool using only their mouths.
18. Boogie Board Balancing Contest
For those unaware, boogie boards are very much like surfboards. What sets them apart is that they’re not meant to be stood upon. You’re supposed to “surf” with them with your chest down.
Boogie boards can also be used for boogie board balancing contests. Kids will love this game as it’s incredibly fun. More importantly, it helps them develop their balancing skills.
19. Item Matching Game
The goal of this game is simple. Each participant has to find two items underwater that match each other. For example, one would need to find a spoon and fork or a bat and ball.
As you might’ve guessed, the first person to find a matching set of items will be declared the victor in this game. Furthermore, the game is best suited for children and preteens.
20. Marco Polo
No conversation about fun pool games would be complete without mentioning Marco Polo.
I’d have to say that this is arguably the most popular swimming pool game. It can be played by people of all ages, making it a perfect way to spend time with the family and beat the heat.
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About The Author
Christian Cruz is an experienced blogger with a deep passion for the outdoors. He has a fascination with engineering that fuels his research for the Excel Pool & Patio Solutions blog.