Fun & Safe Swimming Pool Games (Other Than Marco Polo)

It’s no secret that kids of all ages love to swim, splash, and perform cannonballs in the pool. Take that fun up a notch by adding in some children’s games in the swimming pool. Swimming pool games are a great way to keep the excitement going, get some quality exercise, and spend time with the entire family.

Of course, you’ll want to keep water safety in mind while everyone’s splashing, laughing, and having the time of their lives. Weak swimmers, in particular, need careful attention from the adults keeping an eye on the pool. Let’s chat about common-sense safety guidelines and look at some pool games you may not have heard of before.

Safety Concerns to Bear in Mind

First things first: Always ensure there is adult supervision when kids are near or in the pool. Water is a lot of fun, and we don’t want to dwell on worst-case scenarios, but the truth is that it doesn’t take long for an accident to turn dangerous when swimming pools are involved. Play it safe by making sure an adult is always present.

Remind little ones that roughhousing, playing near drains, and running near a pool will not be tolerated, as they can cause injuries. When kids run or play near the pool's edge, a misstep can send them unexpectedly into the water.

If nonswimmers are present, life jackets can help them stay safe if they veer into the deep end. Note that these don’t replace careful adult supervision but can be a valuable safety tool.

4 Creative Pool Games

Marco Polo is a classic for a reason, but it’s not the only game in town. Here are some safe, creative swimming pool games to try out the next time everyone’s splashing around.

1. F-I-S-H

Description: The F-I-S-H pool game is inspired by the basketball game H-O-R-S-E. It can be played with two or more people.

How to Play: Players must follow the leader and perform tasks such as completing a headstand in the shallow end or swimming a safe lap. If a player fails to complete the task, he or she gains a letter. Once a player earns enough letters to spell F-I-S-H, they’re out! The last person swimming becomes the new leader.

Safety Tips:

An adult should keep an eye on the challenges to make sure none of them are unsafe.
If a wide age range of kids are playing, make sure that the littlest players can handle all the tasks.
All usual pool safety rules should be followed.

2. Treasure Dive

Description: This diving game tests kids' underwater skills as they try to collect all the items from the bottom of the pool.

How to Play: Start by dividing players into two teams. Throw coins and diving sticks into the pool—you’ll need two of each. On “Go,” players dive underwater and collect the objects from the bottom of the pool. Each team needs to gather one of each item, and the winning team is the first to collect all the objects.

Safety Tips:

Ensure you have enough space so the kids don’t bump their heads as they go after the items. If space is limited, you can have the teams take turns while timing them to see who completes the challenge quickest.
Be careful that the dive objects aren’t too close to the pool's walls.
Is the pool deep enough to accommodate diving? You may need to adjust this so kids start in the pool or jump in feet first.
An adult should always be present so the game stays fun and doesn’t get too competitive.

3. Air Ball

Description: All you need for this one is an inflated beach ball. Air ball can be played with any number of participants.

How to Play: The rules are simple: Keep a beach ball in the air and don’t let it touch the water. Watch as players frantically dive and splash to keep the ball high in the air. You can take the action to the yard or the beach and continue the game, but we think it’s most fun in the pool.

Safety Tips:

Some players may go a little too far to stop the ball from hitting the water, so an adult supervisor may need to remind them to calm down.
If there are too many players to move around the pool without knocking into each other, it might be more fun to rotate people in and out of the game every few minutes.

4. Categories

Description: Looking for pool games to play that make you think? Try this fun category pool game! It combines quick thinking with physical activity for the best of both worlds.

How to Play: This game has multiple versions, so we’ll just explain one. One player—the leader—stands against one wall of the pool. The rest of the players stand together at the opposite wall. The leader names a category; each player in the group comes up with a response that fits. For example, if the category is cereal, players might think of Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Cheerios, etc.

Once everyone has an answer in their head, the leader begins shouting out items that fit that category, one at a time: “Smacks! Raisin Bran! Cocoa Puffs!” When the leader gives an answer that one of the other players selected, the player with that response races to the other side of the pool.

The leader sees them move and starts to swim toward the opposite side as well. If multiple players choose the same response, they all start swimming. Whoever wins the race is the new leader, and they get to choose the next category.

Safety Tips:

Since the leader and the other players will be racing toward each other, an adult should keep an eye on them to ensure that no one is heading toward a collision.

Encourage Safe Water Fun with Lessons at Big Blue

Fun in the pool just takes some creativity and the right number of players to create an exciting game that everyone can enjoy. Take these ideas and make up your own games, too. Time in the pool always means great exercise and family bonding. As long as adults supervise the fun, it should be a safe experience for everyone involved.
The pool is even more fun when everyone can swim! At Big Blue Swim Schools, we’re passionate about developing safe young swimmers with our clean, warm water facilities and highly trained adult staff. Sign your kids up for a free lesson today so they’ll be ready for the next swimming pool game!