Water games
Water games: whether at sea, in the pool or indoor swimming pool - games on or in the water, always excite kids. Especially in the summer when the weather is warm water games, are a major programme fixture.
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Which child does not like to play the water or in the ocean? No wonder that water games are still among the most popular children's and youth games around. Whether at the lake, the pool, the pool in the garden or on the sea - water games offer, especially on hot summer days, a welcome refreshment; they are varied and full of action.
Water games also have many other positive effects: Participants learn how to behave in an element for which man is not made. It has been proven that children who had contact with water early on in life have fewer problems later in life. For example, when learning to swim. In addition, water promotes a natural movement of the body. Joints, ligaments and tendons are trained much gentler in the water, then during exercise on land.
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Also, water games are also extremely helpful to teach coordination to children. Movements in the water are different from the movements outside the water. E.g.: we need more strength and planning ahead of movements.
There are countless different water games, which can be used. For some of them, you will need accessories; others can be played without any materials. It is advisable for the youth worker always to take great care that children who cannot swim or feel insecure around the water are also involved.
In general, safety is crucial when it comes to playing in the water. Participants should be supervised at all times and it is important to ensure that no one ventures too far away from the rest of the group. When playing at the sea, it is important that nobody leaves the protected banks area. Also, the ocean floor plays an important role and is an essential prerequisite so that water games can bring full enjoyment. Preferably, it should always be free of sharp objects, such as stones or shells. Likewise, it should be ensured that the participants do not cool down in the water. Even on hot summer days, the stay in the water, particularly in the ocean, can lead to colds, even you do not notice that at the time.
Water games | Games in the swimming pool or lake
See Horse Riding Contest
This water game is played like a chicken fight, only it is played in shallow water.
Turned to Stone
The hunter tags another player, that player 'turns to stone'
- Hunt and Catch
The teams must flee from the others teams or catch them depending on the command called out.
Diving
Who can swim underwater the farthest distance?
Tug o' war
Tug o' war in water or on land.
Watermelon ball
Water ball with a watermelon.
The wet filling
Try to fill the beaker by squirting water from a distance of 1.5-2 meters.
- Water transport
The group must transport as much water as possible from a source only with their own clothing
- Water-Man
The water-man must tag as many swimmers as possible.
Piranhas
The loser is the skeleton: the player who has no more strips.
- Silent As A Fish
The players must get to the other side without being tagged by the other (blindfolded) players.
- Gather It
A specific number of floatable objects are thrown into the pool. At the signal, all players gather all the items.
- Water Limbo Dancing
Like the Limbo dance, players must swim or walk under a pole that is held in the water.
- Through The Ring
Players must swim through a bicycle tire.
- Plastic/foil drainpipe
A long piece of plastic is held above the head and water is encouraged along it.
- Flask rally
A army water bottle hanging on a belt which cannot be removed serves as a water container.
- Water fight
Bring water over the opponent's line.
- Ice cubes on the neck
An ice cube is placed on the back of the neck and must be balanced over a course without dropping it.
Air Mattress Hopping
Players must hop from one air mattress to the next.
Water and Swamp battle
A super swamp battle is on, or a mud catching match, or simply a water battle.
Water balloon
A water balloon must be burst using a toothpick held in the mouth.
- The filling 1
Fill and empty a plastic bottle which is fixed to the leg.
- Water fight with cardboard armour
The aim of the game is to keep the cardboard dry.
- Frog Diving
Frog leaping or -diving in the water
- Dirty Dancing Casting
In this competition, you look for the best dance acrobatics in the water.
- Fish and fishermen
All kids assemble on one side of the pool. One is the catcher, while all kids try to get safely on the other side.
- Solving the Gordian knot
Solving the Gordian knot in the water.
Get away as long as you can
According to the team leader’s instructions, the kids have to dive, swim, swim on the back or splash at each other.
- Lifeguard Bridge
A human water conveyor belt.
- Marry-Go-Around with a difference
Through appropriate movement, creating a vortex where others then can float.
- Chinese Whispers underwater
Try Chinese Whispers underwater for a change.
- Swirl in pool
All children are running in the water in a circle, thus creating a vortex.
- Water aerobics
Water aerobics exercises in the water
- Water Olympics
Various water sports disciplines such as diving, somersault, jumping, mega bomb are to be completed and evaluated.
- Long jump deluxe
Long jump or diving in the pool
- A maths game in the water
A maths game in the water
- Diving Bridge
All children stand in the water with their legs apart
- Fisherman, Fisherman, is how deep the water?
A popular game, which can also be played in the water.
- Laurenza
What works in the backyard can also be played in the water.
- Cars in the water
A game to move around in the water
- Jumping the ball in the water
Jump into the water and catch a ball at the same time.
- Blind Manatee
The objective is to catch other kids blindfolded
- Shark on a leash
A game of catch in the water. However, the catcher is tethered to a leash
- Towels have to remain dry
A towel has to be held above their heads and has to remain dry as they cross the pool
- Bowling with a difference
Each bottle has to be turned upside down with a ball.
- Candle transport
Burning candles have to be transported to the other side of the pool.
- Children’s wash
Running the lanes only, here you get wet
- Airbeds Chaos
How many people can fit on an air mattress?
- Airbeds race
Who can fastest paddling with his air mattress to the other side of the pool?
- Mini balls in the pool
Catching small balls in the water
- Shell collector
Diving after shells the team leader has put into the pool
- Wringing out wet towels
Passing on a wet towel over one’s head and wringing it out at the end.
- Wet Handball Match
Beach ball in the water
- Kickboards Paddle break
Getting from one side of the pool to the other while paddling on a kickboard
- Poker Chips - Pool Diving
Throw poker chips into the pool and the kids have to dive for them.
- Pool noodle taxi
Two pool noodles serve as a taxi on which a passenger has to be transported.
- Swim ring Wrestling
Different games with large swimming rings.
- Water Rugby - head butt ballgame
A Rugby Ball is to be played only with the head. Make sure; kids wear helmets.
- Floating Chocolate Kiss
Floating Chocolate Kisses transported to the other side of the pool.
- Floating carpet
All kids try to stay on the air mattress or the swimming animal as long as possible.
- Pool Noodle Fight
Grabbing the pool noodle off somebody else’s back.
- Seahorses with a difference
Create a pool noodle relay race from one pool end to the other.
- Song in the water
Singing a song underwater, and the other have to guess which song it is
- Diving for objects
The team leader calls out an object which the kids have to get back from the bottom of the pool
- Diving competition
Diving is always a popular water competition.
- Blindman's Buff
Blindman's Buff for once played in the pool
- Do not touch!
Getting a water ball into the opponent’s goal without touching it.
- Catch the ball
Throwing the ball back and forth and catching it as well.
- Pirate treasure hunting
Finding objects at the bottom of the pool
- Dog relay race
By this dog relay race, the water ball is only to be moved with the kid’s head.
- Spoon Search
Diving for spoons in a pool or another container
- Without hands
Swimming in an oversized shirt.
- Jumping through a hoop
Jumping from the edge of the pool into a large hoop or tyre.
- Sponge game
Using only a sponge to fill a bottle or bucket up with water
- Floaties used differently
A swimming competition with floaties
- Running with pool noodles through the water
Running with pool noodles through the water
- Water relay race
This is a water relay race with sponge, mug and TT ball.
- Water or swimming relay race
Water or swimming relay race around a buoy.
- Number bet swimming
A bet with the drawing of the right number.
- Plastic basin Tarzan
Jumping from a swinging rope into the water
- Plastic bottle with holes
A few holes into a plastic bottle and the water battle can start
- Paper ship ahoy
Building little paper boats and invent several games with them after.
- Water balloon picking
Destroying water balloons with toothpicks in the water
- Animal pantomime under water
A pantomime task under water.
- Fun-Bubbles
Moving forward with Fun Bubbles
- Santa Claus and his swimming animals
A Christmassy relay race for the indoor swimming pool.
- Tornado
All kids together create a vortex of energy.
- Pool noodle ball
With the help of the pool noodle, a ball is carried or played into the opposite goal.
- Mug swimming
A water bucket must be filled with water.
- Glow worms
On a swimming board put a burning tea candle.
- Mattress canoe
Putting a cup of water on a lilo and swimming it to the other side of the pool
- Diving
The kids try different styles of jumping into the water.
- Setting the table
All objects you need to set the table have to be carried across the water.
- Schnappi in the Water
A game of catch but this time played in the water
- Catching your predecessor
With one hand you hold onto the pool’s edge, while you are trying to wrestle the kid in front of you away from the edge with your other hand.
- Fruit salad
When the team leader calls out “Fruit salad,” all kids jump into the water. Otherwise only the said fruit.
- Spaghetti - Pepsi
Depending on your favourite food you have to complete particular tasks.
- Who is scared of the white shark?
This is a very well-known game of catch, which is played from one side of the pool to the other.
- Gumboot race
Putting on your gum boots and run or swim in the water
- Sack race in the water
With a clean bag organise a sack race – this time in the water.
- Water Sprint
Running as fast as possible in the water. Who will win the Water Sprint?
- Water Handball
Handball in the water – is called Water Handball
- Jungle River
Mimicking animals which live in the water
- Journey to Jerusalem
Jumping into the water when the music stops.
- Talkative Water Game
Whispers underwater. Who can guess the word?
- The foot ring
Two players are trying to get a ring out of the water only with one foot. Who will win?
- The next Water-Model
Taking underwater photos of the models
- Swirl
The objective is to create a water current
- Who will be the Water King?
A battle to grab the crown from the opponent.
- Stone, starfish and white shark
All participants imitate the animals the team leader calls out. However, if he calls out “Shark” everybody has to leave the pool in an instance.
- Diving for pearls
The aim of this game is, to get as many as possible objects from the bottom of the pool
- Raspberry Bonbon
On command, all kids jump into the water to complete a task.
- Waiters' Race
Getting a cup of water across the pool, on a floating board or a tray.
- Team Diving
Which team can remain the longest under water?
- How much water will the bag take?
Filling a large garbage bag with water until it bursts.
- Fire, water, storm
All kids but one are in the water and have to listen to their mate.
- Chained Shark
A player has to catch the others in the pool
- A game of catch in the water
This is a variant of the Catch Game, only played in the water.
- Catching the shark
Participants are playing a game of catch in the water.
- Spoon diving
Participants have to dive for spoons in the pool.
- T-shirt game
Participants have to fill a bucket with water using only a T-shirt.
- The blind Manatee
The objective is to play the blind man's bluff, however, in a swimming pool.
- Domino
The kids are imitating a game of Domino
- Toilet seat diving
The objective is to swim with your head through a toilet seat and open the lid by doing so.
- Pushing along in the water
Race on the lilo
- A play of catch – however with a challenge.
For this game, one kid gets blindfolded and has to catch the others by touching them on the shoulder.
- Catching ducklings
With a bucket, participants have to fish ducklings out of the water.
- Catching fish
One participant is the fish and has to escape his captors.
- Bursting the balloons
Participants have to try bursting a balloon
- Washerwomen
The objective is to fill up a bucket of water using only a towel.
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