Swimming Pool Games for Two People

One of the best ways to beat the summer heat and get some much-needed exercise is to get into the swimming pool. And you don't have to be a great swimmer. Just get a friend and a few pieces of equipment and you can enjoy a great workout in the pool. Some of these games can be adapted for more than two people. Be careful to supervise young children at all times and those who are not good swimmers.

Beach Ball Balance Race

Both of you can stand against the side of the pool in the shallow end. Hug your beach ball and balance on top. Count to three and then attempt to race to the other end of the pool and back without falling off your ball.

Piranhas

You and your partner are piranhas fighting against each other. Each of you has two or three strips of material, cloth or ribbon, hanging out of your pocket about 2 inches. You have to pull the material out of your partner's pocket while swimming. The one who remains with none is the loser. This can be played in the shallow end of the pool.

Poison Pool Toss

Divide the pool in half with a rope and position a player at each end. Be sure that the one at the deep end is a good swimmer; or if neither of you is comfortable in deep water, take a position at each side of the shallower end. Throw the same number of floatable objects into the pool -- balls, noodles, rings, corks and any other inflatables -- on either side. At a signal, each player tries to throw as many items as she can over to the other side. This game can take five to ten minutes. When the time is up, the person with the least number of items on her side is the winner.

Dolphin Relay

Each of you has a ball. Your goal is to push the ball down to the end of the pool using your nose or your forehead. If you touch the ball with your hands, you have to go back to the place where you did that and start over. The one who reaches the other end first is the winner, or you can decide how many trips each person needs to make to be declared the winner.