How to Play Sharks and Minnows in the Pool

Swim underwater from one side of the pool to the other without the "sharks" tagging you and turning you into one of them. Last "minnow" left wins.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Swimsuits
• Swimsuits For Children
• Swimming Caps
• Swimming Goggles
• Swimsuits

1. Gather about 10 people in a pool.

2. Choose a person to start out as a "shark." That person goes to the center of the pool. Everyone else goes to one side.

3. Close your eyes if you are the "shark" and give the command for "minnows" (everyone else) to go.

4. Swim across the pool trying not to let the shark touch you if you are a minnow. Listen for sounds of moving minnows if you're the shark and try to touch them.

5. Join the shark in the middle if you are touched. Everyone else swims back across again, trying not to get touched by the shark.

6. Continue crossing back and forth until only one minnow is left. That minnow is the winner and chooses who the next starting shark will be.

Tips & Warnings

• In deep water or a large pool you can play with the shark's eyes open.
• Children should be supervised in the pool at all times.
• If you have any condition that could impair or limit your ability to engage in physical activity, please consult a physician before attempting this activity. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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on 6/30/2006 Play the game with rules that have the 'shark' drag the 'minnow' to the surface of the water. This makes the game more physical, but it is a lot of fun. To make sure that the 'minnows' don't become harmed, tell the 'minnows' not to struggle if they don't want to be hurt or run out of air.

NOTE: Play only with strong swimmers in the deep end of the pool, with supervision.

on 6/30/2006 If you're with faster swimmers or just want to play a little more competitively, then have the Minnows be safe underwater and the Sharks have to drag them to the surface or tag them when they are taking a breath. I'm on a competitive swim team, and when we play this with the older kids it is way more fun.

on 11/22/2005 Where I'm from, the Shark stands outside of the pool, facing away from it. If he hears a Minnow, he can just turn around and jump in after them. But -- if he fails to catch a Minnow after jumping in, he has to stand a step further away from the pool when he returns to his perch. This discourages constantly going for the Minnows and also gives the Minnows opportunities to "fake out" the Shark.

If you're a Minnow, fake out the Shark by splashing or leaving the ledge for only a few feet and quickly grabbing hold again. When you decide to go, swim underwater. It's quieter. Try not to be the first or the last one to go.

If you're a Shark, it's just a matter of having good ears. Learn to differentiate fake splashes from Minnows actually swimming across.

on 11/22/2005 We give the littler minnows more of a chance by making any shark who is bigger and a strong swimmer catch the minnows while swimming underwater. If the shark comes up for air, the minnows have automatically "escaped."