Pool Games for Youth Groups

Keeping teenagers interested in youth group activities can be a challenge, especially during the summer, when there is a lot of competition for their time. However, if a pool is available to your group, some fun games can quickly have the teens swimming with delight.

  1. Group Building

    • If you're using a round pool, have the entire group stand around the perimeter of the pool. On command by the group leader, all walk in the same direction. After a minute, the group leader tells everyone to walk faster; after another minute, the teens are directed to jog. If there are 20 or more teens in the water, the whirlpool will be intense. After a minute or so of jogging, have the group turn around and try to swim or walk against the current.

      Place an inflated air mattress in the center of a pool. Tell the teens to get on the air mattress one at a time. See how many can get on at one time. For safety, have several adult spotters on hand to keep the mattress away from the sides of the pool.

    Team Sports

    • Play Chicken, the classic pool game. Have the group pair up (pair girls with girls and boys with boys). For each two-player team, one person gets on the shoulders of her teammate. The object of the game is to knock down the other players. Adult supervision is needed to keep the game safe, such as making sure the players do not get too close to the sides of the pool.

      Do a sweatshirt relay. Divide the group into two teams. Provide each team with an extra-large sweatshirt. Position half of each team at two ends of the pool. This game is a relay race in which the first person jumps into the pool wearing the sweatshirt. When he reaches the other side, he takes the sweatshirt off and passes it to his teammate, who must put it on and then race to the other side. Play continues until every person on the team has gone.

    Individual Fun

    • Have a belly flop contest. Each person gives his best belly flop. Scoring can be done by a panel of judges or by applause from the group at large. Give prizes in categories such as the largest splash, the most painful-looking splash or the most creative belly flop.

      Have a duck race. Give each teen a rubber duck. Line the group, about four or five teens per race, at one end of the pool. The object is get their rubber duck to the other end of the pool without using their hands or mouth (no biting). Each may only push with her head or blow the duck to move. Players are allowed to distract their opponents by splashing, but are not allowed to touch the other players or their ducks.