Team Swimming Pool Games for Younger Kids

Here are some great team water games to play with younger children. These games should be played in the shallow end of the pool or in a wadding pool. As with any water activity, adult supervision is suggested.

Ping Pong Ruckus

Divide players into two teams and have them spread out in the water, touching the walls of the shallow end. Dump a bucket of ping pong balls into the water. At your start, players must collect ping pong balls, one at a time, and carry them back to their team's bucket. Teams collect as many ping pong balls as they can during a set time and the one with the most ping pong balls wins. (Note: mark an out-of-bounds line between the shallow and deep ends).

Wet Shirt Relay

Line up two teams at the side of the pool (in the shallow end, by the steps). Hand the first person on each team a soaking wet t-shirt - preferably larger than the largest player. At the whistle, the player must put on the t-shirt, walk into the pool and walk to other side of the shallow end and back, tagging the next person in line. The player then removes the shirt and hands it to the next player, who must put it on and repeat the process. The first team to complete the relay wins.

By Rochelle Strauss