Also, take a look at the Top 10 Pool Floats for some more pool fun!
1. Ice Cubing
All you need is ice for this great racing game. Divide participants into two teams and make sure you have at least 10 ice cubes per player (or more, especially if it's particularly steamy out or if older kids are involved).
Have each team gather at the opposite ends of the pool and give each team one bucket - you can either put the bucket up on the sidewalk/deck or have it floating in the pool with a tube, be creative!). Then dump the appropriate amount of (2 people = 20) ice cubes in the center of the pool and start the clock!
Have one child from each team compete for a minute to see who can get the most and then move on. If your teams are small enough, you can have a free-for-all type competition with all the ice cubes at once, but be advised that this may be more risky for accidental injuries.
2. Sharks and Minnows
Choose one player to be "it" as the Shark. The shark goes to one side of the pool and the rest of the players (Minnows) line up outside the pool on the opposite side. When the Shark calls out a phrase like "I'm hungry!", the Minnows can begin to jump into the pool to attempt to swim to the other side without being tagged by the Shark. A Minnow can decide when to jump in - but if the shark swims all the way over to the wall and touches it, then all the Minnows outside the water are "out".
3. Eat the Seaweed
This game requires a bit more set up, but can be really fun - especially for older children/adults. You need two long poles, which you can build out of PVC pipes if you have PVC available. At one end of each pole you will need to poke a small hole in which to tie string through. (Alternatively, you can also tape the string to the pole.) You will also need to obtain seaweed sheets (you can find these at your local supermarket most likely - also called "nori". It's the same stuff used to wrap sushi rolls). If seaweed is not available, try using another thin paper-like food. Cut the seaweed sheets into smaller squares (around 2.5 inch x 1 inch) and poke a hole through the sheet. Now tie the PVC string to the sheet so in the end you will have two long poles with a square of seaweed dangling from the end of each one.
Have two people hold the poles (or find someway to support them) so that the seaweed is hanging about 8-10 feet high in the air. The pole holders will need to make sure the two seaweed sheets are at equal heights and will need to have a steady grip.
Split the group of players into pairs, with one person who will ride on top and one person who will carry them - similar to the game stance of "Chicken". Have two pairs compete against each other to see who can get eat the seaweed square first. However, the top person may not use their hands to get up on their partner NOR may they use their hands to eat the seaweed. This game is especially fun to play if there is a slight breeze because the seaweed sheet will flutter in the wind.
4. Four Corners
Designate four different corners of your pool, 1 through 4. Choose a player to be "it" and have them close their eyes while standing in the middle of the pool. While the "it" player counts to ten, the rest of the players swim to whichever corner they choose. After the "it" player has finished counting, he or she calls out a number between 1-4. All the players who chose the corner number that is called out are now "out". Repeat this process until only one player is left.
5. Dive for the Prize
This is a really simple game that only requires pool rings, change, or some other small sinkable items that you can toss into your pool. Throw the items in and have the players retrieve them. Whoever collects the most wins. Even though it's a straight forward game, you'll be surprised how much fun kids will have going after the sunken items.
6. Underwater Telephone
There are two ways to play this game. To start, have one player think of a message. This player must then pass the message on to the next player by writing the message on the second player's back while both players are underwater. Then the second player to the next player and so on, until the message has reached the final player. Have the final player say the message aloud and see how close the result is to the original message.
Alternate Version: Instead of writing the message on each player's back - you can have the players attempt to say the message to each other underwater.
7. Seaweed
Similar to Freeze Tag and very, very different from "Eat the Seaweed" above. Someone is declared "it" and the rest of the players line up on one side of the pool. When the game begins, players try to swim back and forth the length of the pool without being tagged. If tagged, the player becomes seaweed rooted to the pool floor and cannot move except to swing back and forth in the waves. The player must stay as seaweed until another player swims between his legs. The game ends when all players have become seaweed ("it" player wins) or time runs out (non-"it" players win).
8. Wall Tag Plus
Similar to the traditional Wall Tag, where one person is "it" and must keep their eyes closed while trying to tag another player. Everyone else has to avoid being tagged without letting go of the pool wall. In this Plus version, have the person who is "it" call out questions such as "Who on the wall is wearing pink?". Everyone who is wearing pink must now shout out "Me!" so that they may be more easily discovered by the "it" player.
9. Numbers
Numbers is a variant of "Colors" or "Categories" that works well for younger children and has a built-in honesty system. One player is "it" and stands in the middle of the pool facing the opposite direction of the rest of the players so that he cannot see them. Everyone else must line up on one side of the pool and choose a number (1-3). The players then raise the corresponding fingers to that number above their head. The "it" player then calls out a number (1-3) and all the players that selected that number must swim to the other side to safety without being tagged by the "it" player. If a player is tagged, he is out.
Optional: Add a safe "base" in the middle of the pool, such as the pool drain.
10. Basketball or Volleyball
If you are willing to shell out a few bucks to play some in-pool sports, consider getting a basketball hoop or volleyball net. PoolJam even offers a combo product that includes both without any complex installation (pictured above). Available for both In Ground Pools and Above Ground Pools.
