Whether you're attending a backyard pool party or visiting the community pool, when you have a group of friends with you, you have instant summer fun. And these pool games for teens will amp up the fun even more. So gather your best buds, head for the water, and have some fun in the sun.
Octopus Tag
Octopus Tag is like a basic game of tag played in the pool, but the person who is "it" ends up with extra help. Choose one person to be "it." When that person tags another guest, the tagged person joins hands with "it," and they continue to try to tag others. Eventually, all but one guest will be part of the octopus, and that person starts off the next game as "it."
Greasy Watermelon
This is game is perfect to play in the pool. To begin, divide the teens into two teams and have them stand on one side of the pool. Place a watermelon that has been greased up with either vegetable oil or petroleum jelly in the middle of the pool and have the teens try to retrieve it and bring it back to their team.
Another variation of this game is to use the watermelon to play a game of hot potato. Play music while teens pass the watermelon around in a circle. When the music stops, whoever is holding it is out.
Noodle Joust
For this game, you'll need at least four teens and four pool noodles. The teens must first sit and balance on a pool noodle. Then they will work to joust against the other teen. The first to lose their balance and fall is the loser.
Sharks and Bait
This game works best with 10 or more teens, but can be fun with fewer. One person stands in the center of the pool while all the others are at one end of the pool. The bait will try to cross to the other side when the shark says go. Any bait tagged by a shark before reaching the edge of the pool at the other side becomes a shark. Game continues until there is only one bait left. That bait becomes the new shark.
Related: 15 Things to Bring to a Pool Party so You're Ready for Fun
Hot Diggity Dog
With about 10 or more teens, you'll designate an "it" person. The rest will roam around the pool, trying to stay away from "it". When tagged, they'll put their arms in the air like a hot dog and freeze. To get unfrozen, they need to find two "buns" to surround them, one on the left and one on the right. If the three are touching, "it" can't touch them, but once they run away, all bets are off. Keep playing until everyone is a hot dog or a bun.
Speedy Duck
For this game, you're going to need some rubber ducks and lots of friends. Give each person — or groups if you have a lot of people — a rubber duck. They must use their breath, waves, etc., to move the duck across the pool. They absolutely can't touch it with their hands, face, feet, etc. The first one across the pool wins.
Pool Hippo Scramble
Just like Hungry, Hungry Hippos, but with water and lots of real-life action. To play, you're going to need ping pong balls, a bucket, nets, and six or more people. One person will be designated the "Go" person. Have four people with nets placed around the pool an equal distance from each other. One person will pour the balls into the middle of the pool and leave. The Go person will scream "go!" Each of the four people in the pool must lunge at the balls with their net. They only get one lunge once, and then they must go back to their corner with their captured balls. The Go person will continue to yell "go" until all the balls have been captured. Scramble up the players and start again.
Beach Ball Relay Race
To begin this relay, divide into two teams and line up on one end of the pool. One player on each team will be given a beach ball. Players must place the beach ball in front of them and use only their heads to push the ball down the length of the pool and back to their team. The next person in line takes over the ball pushing. Whatever team completes the relay first is declared the winner.
Well-Known Pool Games
If the excitement is getting dull, don't forget these classics.
- Belly Flop, diving, or cannonball contests: If your swimming pool is deep enough, hold contests such as best or most creative dive, biggest splash and best belly flop.
- Water balloon toss: Two teams will toss the balloons back and forth until a balloon breaks, and the person who dropped it is eliminated.
- Tug-o-war: With a rope and two teams, you'll tug each other until someone gets pulled to the other side of the pool.
- Volleyball: Spread a volleyball net across the pool and use a beach ball to play a game.
- Water basketball: Set up a hoop along the edge of the pool and divide into two teams for a fun game of hoops.
Keep an Eye on Safety
Things can get rowdy when you're having fun, so it's especially important to keep your eye on safety so everyone has a good time but does it without injury or worse. So set ground rules ahead of time to make sure everyone stays safe, and then have a good time splashing around with your BFFs.
