Water Fun!
Water games are a great way to spend your summer vacation having fun. Here
are some summer games I tried with a variety of ages. It’s time to have fun!
Materials:
Ping Pong Ball
Hula Hoop
Small plastic treasures
Pool Noodle
Ping-Pong Blow
Set a Ping-Pong ball on the surface of the water. Blow it across the pool.
Have a race -- who can get there first?
Hula Tricks
Hold a hula hoop a foot or two under the water, and have your friends swim
through it underwater.
Duck, Duck, Splash
This game has the same rules as Duck, Duck Goose except you say, "Duck, Duck
Splash” and when you "splash" someone, you wring out a wet sponge over their
head.
Looking for Gold
Take coins or round souvenirs, which you can see if you look down into a
swimming pool. Stand facing away from the pool then throw the objects over
your shoulder into the pool in different areas. After you have thrown all
the coins or souvenirs, turn around, jump into the pool, and see how long it
takes you to find them. It is like looking for gold.
Body Parts Tag
Select one player to stay outside the pool and be the "chooser." Everyone
else is in the pool and one player in the pool is chosen as the "tagger."
The chooser chooses a body part such as arm, leg, nose, head, chin, foot
etc. and yells that part to the group. The players try to avoid being tagged
by the tagger on that specified body part. So, for example, if the caller
says "foot," the swimmers try to keep their feet away from the tagger.
Rainbow Tag
Have students be about five feet away from the edge. Everyone in the pool
has to have a color for the rainbow based on their favorite color on their
swimsuit. If “it” calls a color must jump in the pool and go under the
water so that the person with the hose can’t tag you.
Mission Impossible
One person is the "it." They stand in the middle of the pool with their eyes
closed. The other players start at the shallow end of the pool and try to
swim to the other end of the pool without being tagged. When you reach the
other end say "Mission Impossible." Then swim back without being tagged and
say "Mission Completed." If you are the first one to be tagged, then you
are the next "it." If no one is tagged the last person to complete the
mission is the next "it."
Limbo
Two players hold up a limbo stick (pool noodle), and the rest of the players
form a line and pass under it. Players are not allowed to touch the limbo
stick, and they cannot have any body part but their feet touch the floor.
The game continues this way, with the limbo stick being lowered each time.
If a player accidentally touches the limbo stick or the floor, he's out. The
last player left doing the limbo wins.
Forty Strokes
Determine a swimming course. Players line up at one end of the swimming
course. The first player swims across the course in a manner of his or her
own choosing. The second player then swims across the course in a manner
that is different from the first player. Each player takes a turn swimming
across the course without copying any of the prior strokes or methods used
to traverse the area. Any innovative propulsion activity is acceptable.
Player positions change with each new round.
Baseball Pool
Play baseball in the pool, use a foam bat and ball, swim to designated
points around the pool and score bases as if it were regular baseball. The
pitcher should toss from one end of the pool to the other for the batter,
and a foul ball is one that goes out of the pool.
Soccer Pool
Soccer is another team game that can be modified for the pool. Use a large
beach ball, and have fun, remember that you can't use your hands to touch
the ball.
Categories
This is a swimming pool game. One person is it. It decides on a category of
any kind. (It can be kinds of cereal, cars, flowers, colors, things by the
pool, sports, NFL teams -- ANYTHING!!) All the other players are gathered on
one side of the pool and quietly decide which thing in the category they
will be and tell each other. Then it begins to call out things he/she
thinks of in the category. If it calls a player's thing the player must
swim to the other side of the pool before it tags the player. If it tags
the player, then he/she becomes the next it. This game is lots of fun and
different every time we play. Any number and age can play, as long as they
can swim. Also, it must have his/her back to the players and can ONLY turn
around if he/she thinks someone is swimming underwater for the other side.
Take time out this summer to enjoy the water, sun and another opportunity to
exercise!
References
A Block Party of Another Kind
http://txtx.essortment.com/swimmingpoolga_rurf.htm
Family Fun Water Games
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-
crafts/season/feature/famf87poolgames/famf87poolgames2.html
Fun Attic Pool Games
http://www.funattic.com/game_water.htm
Pool and Water Games at Party Central
http://www.partygamecentral.com/pgcstandard/gameliststd.asp?
type=water&catname=POOL+%26+WATER+PARTY+GAMES
Splashy Pool Games
http://ww4.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?
storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/11006.xml
Swimming Pool Games for Children
http://txtx.essortment.com/swimmingpoolga_rurf.htm
Water Aerobics
Water Aerobics is a great alternative to those who are new to exercising, have frequent injuries
due to pounding sports, or those who want a great cardiovascular/ strength cross-training
activity. Aqua fitness does not require the person to submerge their whole body; instead, energy
can be expended through waist-high exercise. It uses all the major muscle groups, including the
core, and is a great lower body workout. It improves strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular
endurance. Water aerobics improve heart and lung function and circulation and help create
energy. It increases metabolism and encourages weight loss in just a few laps in obese adults.
An average of 300 to 700 calories per hour can be burned during water aerobic activity.
Water aerobics appeals to athletes and non-athletes alike. Aerobic and strength routines can be
modified for all fitness levels, including those who are rehabilitating, overweight, have
arthritis, are pregnant, and who are just beginning a fitness routine. As we age, water aerobics
makes a great option since it places less stress on the joints and muscles and since the water
temperature is controlled. An ideal workout environment is 80-83 degrees.
In water, 85%-90% of the body is supported. That means that there is only 10% of impact on the
muscles, joints, and bones from traditional cardiovascular activities such as step aerobics,
running, or kick boxing. Water exercise provides buoyancy and support for your body while still
allowing for a good workout.
Water aerobics can also be great for body weight strength training because the water creates
more resistance than land and encourages flexibility and toning, and provides an aerobic
benefit. An individual can use their own body weight or a special foam aqua weight to tone
various parts of the body. The water’s density provides a natural resistance when an individual
is working out in the water. Water increases resistance twelve times the amount that air
offers.
Proper equipment is important to aquatic exercise. A good swimsuit should allow you room to
move and aqua shoes or tennis shoes will help you easily move in and out of the pool. They also
provide traction and comfort for the feet. Some insurance companies cover water aerobics as part
of their rehabilitation or preventative wellness program. Aqua aerobics is an effective
exercise, so get off the couch and get into water exercise!
References
Aerobic Water Exercise
http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/aerobics-aqua.html
Aqua Aerobics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_Aerobics
Guide to Swimming Exercise
http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/guide-to-swimming-exercise.html
Water Aerobics
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?
requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/hl/fit/card/water.jsp
Water Aerobic Routine
http://decreasingdiane.com/aquasize.htm
Pool Party!
Hereare some games you can play in the pool and have fun with your friends. Remember to avoid objects with sharp objectsand ones that cannot be swallowed by small children. You’re your participantsclear, concise and observable and measureable directions. So get ready some great water fun.
Games with Equipment
Dolphin Relay
Equipment:sponge balls and hula-hoops
Youcan start out with two players and add on to this game as you go. Set up ahula-hoop at each end of the pool and give each player 2-3 sponge balls. Eachplayer will try to get his or her water bombs into the other person’s hoop.They will receive one point for each completion. They cannot touch to hoopunless it starts to float out of bounds but they can block shots and catch thebombs.
Garbage Pail Game
Equipment: sponge ball and hula-hoops
Setup a hula-hoop at each end of the pool and give each player a sponge ball. Eachplayer will try to get his or her balls into the other opponent’s hoop. They will receive one point for eachcompletion. They cannot touch to hoop unless it starts to float out of boundsbut they can block shots and catch the bombs.
Whateverfloats your boat game?
Materials: Floation device foreach team or kickboard
This race is best for long pools.Racers sit in a floation at the shallow end of the pool. When they are told to“go” they must race to the other end of the pool using their hands as paddles.Fora variation of this game you can also use a kick board and sit on it.
Bobbing Heads
Materials: Sponge Ball
One player is it while the otherplayers bob in and out of the water at one end of the pool. Without crossingthe centerline, the person who is it tries to hit one of the bobbing playerswith a foam or soft rubber ball. Bobbing players should come up and submerge atan irregular pace to keep the person who is it from knowing exactly when theywill emerge again.If the person who is it misses, he or she must retrieve theball and return to the throwing side. If he or she hits one of the bobbingplayers, the person who was hit then becomes it.
Penny Hunt
Materials: Pennies or something that will go to the end of thepool
Take pennies or another object that sinks and have the kids findthem in the water. The child that finds the most coins wins.
Limbo
Materials: Pool Noodle
Play the game of limbo with a pool limbo but put it lower andlower in the water and see if the participants belly up and go under it thelowest. The lowest person wins and gets to pick someone else to hold thelimbo noodle for the next game.
Cruise Ship
Materials: Objects that will float on person’s stomach such asfigurines and ducks
Have a person lay on their backside and have various plasticfigures or objects on their stomach and try to get them from one place toanother by back floating. The team that gets the most objects to the sideof the pool wins.
Chase the Ball
Materials: Ball oranother object that will float
Get the ball from one end to the other using their head or noseonly.
Popcorn Races
Materials: Ball
Jump up and down from end to the other with keeping yourball between your legs. The first team that finishes first wins.
Octopus
Choose a person to be"it". They stand in the middle of the pool. Players line up on oneside of the pool and try and swim to the other side without being tagged. Theplayers who are tagged hold hands with "it" and for the next roundall the players holding hands try and tag the swimmers as they try and make itto the other end of the
pool.
Popsicle
This is a modified version offreeze tag. Define a playing area where everyone can stand with his or her headabove water. One person is it and tries to tag the other players. If a playeris tagged, he or she must stand frozen like a popsicle (with hands straight inthe air) until another player thaws him or her by swimming between his or herlegs. A player cannot be tagged while underwater.
BottleBrigade
Turnempty plastic bottles into instant pool toys
It doesn't get much simpler than this. Contestants race across the pool whilepushing an empty plastic bottle with their feet. For a variation of the gametry the elbow, nose or other body part.
No Equipment
Charades
One player quickly tries to act out a action whileshe's jumping into the pool. The first contender to guess correctly becomes thenext actor/actress.
Fishy, FishyShark
In the pool version of duck,duck, goose, players chase one another through the water.
Jump and Spin
With arms above your shoulders jump as high as you can try tospin around once before your feet touch. For a challenge add a clapbefore your feet touch the bottom.
Follow the Leader
In a pool choose one person to be it and then have the rest ofthe group follow. The group member that follows the best gets to be theleader or randomly choose different people for each round.
Party Pool
Materials: Noodles or Kickboards
One less noodle or kickboard per person. Play musicalchairs like the regular game except use a floatation device in the pool. Play until there isonly one person left in the game. The object of the game is to be thelast one out and then they are it for the next game.
Hydro-Triathlon
Just like a triathlon have three events for a game.
Team Tri: Each person does a locomotion. Swim a leg, run aleg, and then choose an activity for the last leg.
Kickboards: Use a board and use it as a shuttle relay. Flutter kicks, sitting on the board and swimming breaststroke can beused.
Noodles: Wrap a noodle between your legs, your torso andrun and breaststroke.
Blowing a FloatingObject:
Use a small plastic ball and have them blow it across the wayand back. For a variation of the game they can have predeterminedboundaries and bring it back and forth like a shuttle relay.
Wheelbarrow Relay
Get into teams of 2. The first person has a dead man floatsposition and then the other person is the farmer in a standing position. They are to walk or jog to the other part of the pool. The firstteam to and from wins.
You can add excitement to the game by having the partners switchroles halfway in between or doing various strokes in the relay.
Float Positions
Have students sit on the back and form various letters, numbersor symbols. The team that successfully makes letters, numbers orsymbols that the leader can identify wins.
London Bridge, a Swimming Game
This game can be played at theshallow end of the pool or in deeper water, depending on the swimming abilitiesof players. Two players hold each other’s hands high, while each of the otherplayers walks under the bridge. After each player walks under the bridge, thebridge is lowered. Eventually players will have to swim under the bridge.However, the bridge can be raised to accommodate younger players.
References:
Lee, Terri,Water fun andfitness, Human Kinetics, Champaign IL 2006
Rodominista Kim101 coolpool games: fun and fitness for swimmers of all levels, Brainerd, HunterHouse Brainerd, MN 2006
http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/splash-into-summer-706587/
http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Pool--water+8/Mermaid-swim-races+11920.htm
http://suite101.com/article/beach-play-activities-and-games-a24281
http://www.swimmingpool.com/entertaining/pool-games
http://www.youthwork-practice.com/games/water-games-pool-party.html