Beach ball races combine speed, teamwork, and tons of splashing fun! This simple activity gets everyone moving and laughing as they try to push colorful beach balls across the water using only splashes or their breath.
It works in swimming pools, lakes, or even in shallow kiddie pools for younger children. No matter where you play, the result is always wet, wild fun!
Table of Contents
Materials Needed and Estimated Costs
Here’s everything you’ll need to set up exciting beach ball races:
- Beach balls (one per team/player)
- Swimming pool, kiddie pools, or lake access
- Pool noodles for lane dividers (optional)
- Rope or string to mark finish line
- Spray bottles or water squirters (optional)
- Whistle or timer
- Towels
- Prizes for winners (optional)
Setting Up the Race
To get started, you’ll need several colorful beach balls and enough water space for teams to move freely. Bigger balls create bigger splashes, but smaller ones move faster!
Divide the kids into equal teams and position them at one end of the swimming area. It makes things easier if each team has a beach ball in their own color– but not required.
Mark a clear finish line using pool noodles, rope, or whatever else you have on hand– as long as everyone can see where the race ends.
How to Play
The objective is simple: be the first team to push/splash your beach ball to the finish line! The catch is that players can’t touch the ball with their hands.
Players can use small water squirters, cupped hands to splash water, or even blow on the ball to move it forward. The indirect movement makes the race unpredictable and hilarious!
Teams work together to create waves and currents that push their ball toward the finish line.
ADJUSTMENTS
For younger children, you could create “lanes” using pool noodles to keep the balls from drifting. This helps keep things moving and keeps them from getting super frustrated.
In deeper water, players can create waves by moving their arms underwater or swimming beside their ball. In shallow water, splashing works better to move the balls.
To add a bit more fun you could make the games multiple rounds and change the rules for each round. For example, one round might be splash-only, while another could be blowing-only.
For mixed age groups, you could give younger teams a head start or use larger beach balls that catch more water movement.
Fun Variations
Beach Ball Relay: Players are split into teams and pass the beach ball down a line using only water splashes – no touching the ball with hands! The last person in line must get the ball across the finish line.
Beach Ball Obstacle Course: Set up obstacles in the water that the beach balls must navigate around or through while being pushed by water splashes.
Color Race: Use multicolored beach balls and assign specific colors to each player. When you call out a color, only those players can move their balls forward for 10 seconds.
Beach Ball Balance: Players must push their beach ball while balancing a small cup of water on their head. If the cup spills, they must go back to the starting line!
Backwards Race: Players must face away from the finish line and push their beach balls backwards using only splashes behind them.
Team Ball: Use one extra-large beach ball that requires 2-3 players working together to move it through the water using coordinated splashes.
This game encourages teamwork and strategy while keeping everyone cool on hot summer days. The lightweight nature of beach balls makes this activity good for children of all swimming abilities – even those who prefer to stay in the shallow end!