Top 5 Fun (& Safe) Swimming Pool Games

Swimming pool games can be a fun way to get some exercise and spend time with friends and family in your pool. While plenty of people maintain a swimming pool to get their laps in, fun activities seem to find their way into any pool area, whether you like to host weekly get-togethers or just plan on one or two barbecues over the summer for birthdays or holidays. As long as the focus is on safety as well as fun, pool party games are a great way to bring everyone together to create experiences and memories everyone present will appreciate. 

Great Games For Great Times

You don’t need a lot of equipment for fun swimming pool games to keep your partygoers entertained. You just need a safe pool space and some friends and family who are ready for fun.

• Marco Polo – One of the most popular swimming pool games there is, this watery version of hide and seek can be safe as long as participants obey a few rules. No getting in and out of the water, no dunking, and no flailing. One person closes their eyes and shouts, “Marco!” Other players in the water respond with “Polo!” The idea is to avoid being caught by the player with their eyes closed and becoming the next seeker yourself. 
• No Wake! – Similar to Red Light, Green Light, this game sees swimmers (or waders if the participants can’t swim) trying to traverse a set distance in the water, but when “No Wake!” is called, any splashing or water disturbances cause them to be out, although movement is still possible during “No Wake!” time, it must be slow and measured if the participant wants to stay in the game. The winner could either get a prize or become the caller for the next round.
• Underwater Retrieval – For more accomplished swimmers, retrieving diving sticks or rings from under the water remains a popular pastime. Diving into the shallow end should never be allowed, and there should always be a responsible water watcher or lifeguard on hand since this involves deeper water.
• Beach Ball Races – This is a fun competitive activity that can easily be adjusted to suit the skill levels of the participants, making it one of the best pool party games when mixed skill ranges are involved. The point of the game is to see who can move a beach ball from one end or side of the pool to the other the fastest. Throwing the ball or leaving the pool is not allowed. Strong swimmers might have to push the ball along with their nose, moderate swimmers may be allowed to clutch it (which allows its buoyancy to help them progress), while non-swimmers can wade across as fast as possible. 
• Sharks and Minnows – Another of the most well-known swimming pool games, Sharks and Minnows sees a single player, the shark, positioned in the middle of the pool. The other players, minnows, begin at the edges of the water and try to get past the shark. If they are tagged, then they have been eaten and are out of the game. 

Fun Can Be Safe

While swimming pool games are one of the most looked-forward-to parts of any party, it’s important to note that safety is not a game. Whether through competitive nature or just from distraction, dangerous behavior can mar an otherwise fun day by the pool with injury and tragedy. When planning activities in the pool and at the poolside, remember to maintain a safe, fun environment.

• Ensure Safety Fences and Swimming Pool Safety Covers Are In Use When The Pool Isn’t. It’s not uncommon for a party to migrate inside the house for a bit before returning. If no one is going to be in the pool or the pool isn’t to be used until later, make sure your covers and fences are in place and secure to help prevent accidental drowning. 
• Never Leave An Active Pool Unsupervised, Especially With Children Around. If the pool is being used, a responsible party who is a strong swimmer and/or able to render aid to a swimmer in distress should be supervising the action. A drowning can happen in moments, and a child who is unable to swim or adult swimmer who encounters difficulties may not be able to save themselves. Accidental drowning is the number one cause of death for children aged one-to-four in the United States, and we all bear a responsibility to do what we can to prevent this tragedy.
• Keep Hazards Away From The Pool Area. Electrical hazards, broken glass, and piles of towels that can tangle feet and cause a playing child to slip have no place by the pool area.
• Get Certified for Water Safety and Saving Lives. The American Red Cross and other community organizations offer courses in lifeguarding, water safety, first aid, and CPR so that you are ready to keep your swimming pool games safer and to step in if an emergency happens on your watch.
• Don’t Let The Action Get Out Of Hand. One of the most important parts of keeping your swimming pool games safe is keeping the action under control. Sometimes it may be necessary to call a break for drinks, snacks, or another out-of-pool activity if swimmers are getting too tired or too exuberant. In groups of younger swimmers, watch for signs of frustration that may boil over into unsafe behavior. 

Create Your Safer Pool Area

Swimming pool safety covers and safety fencing are an important part of being a responsible pool owner. By serving as a physical barrier between your pool and someone who may not be properly supervised or skilled enough in the water to save themselves in the case of an accidental immersion, you reduce the risk of accidental drowning. Contact a local installer for a custom quote built around making your pool area safer while maintaining its beauty. Call All-Safe Pool today.