Marco Polo

One of the most classic of all pool games. The game is basically like it but the player that is it closes his eyes.

Number of players: 3+

Designate one person to be “it.” This can be done however you’d like: rock-paper-scissors, a swimming race, etc. Now, the person who is “it” closes his/her eyes (no peeking!) and all of the other players scatter around the pool. After a set number of seconds (a number should be decided on before the game begins), the player that is “it” swims around the pool (eyes still closed) and attempts to tag one of the other players. Whoever is “it” may say “Marco!” whenever they choose, and all of the other players are required to respond “Polo!”

Everyone else playing the game is constantly trying to get away from whoever is “it”, but at quietly as possible. Once the person who is “it” successfully tags another player, they become “it” and the game starts over.

Variation: Fish-out-of-water

This variation of Marco Polo allows the players to get out of the pool while whoever is “it” is searching for them. Once out of the pool, they are completely safe from being tagged because the player that is “it” cannot leave the water. HOWEVER, whoever is “it” can call “fish out of water” if he/she believes that one of the players is standing outside of the pool. If he/she is correct, than that person is the next to be “it.” If more than one player was outside of the water when “fish out of water” was called, the person who is “it” may choose which player he/she wants to become “it” for the next game. But, if no one is out of the water when “fish out of water” is called, then the game starts over, beginning with the counting.