There is something about a relay race that turns even the most laid-back pool day into an all-out competition. Maybe it is the team element. Maybe it is the pressure of knowing everyone is watching you swim. Either way, pool relay races are one of the easiest ways to get a group of people off their floats and into the action.
The beauty of relay races is that they scale perfectly. You can run them with six people or sixty. They work for birthday parties, family reunions, camp days, and backyard hangouts. And the variations are nearly endless, so you never have to repeat the same race twice.
We put together this list of relay race ideas that range from classic swimming relays to absurd challenges that will have everyone laughing. Each one includes setup details, recommended team sizes, and the age groups that will enjoy it most.
If you are looking for more pool game ideas beyond relays, check out our list of 12 swimming pool games everyone should know or our roundup of the best pool games for adults.
Classic Swim Relay
Ages: 6 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: None
You cannot have a relay race list without the original. Line up teams at one end of the pool. The first swimmer races to the opposite wall, touches it, swims back, and tags the next person in line. First team to finish wins.
Keep it simple for younger kids by letting them use any stroke. For older swimmers and adults, you can require specific strokes for each leg. Freestyle for the first swimmer, backstroke for the second, breaststroke for the third, and so on.
Pro tip: Designate a clear tagging spot, like the pool wall or a specific lane marker. Arguments about whether someone actually tagged their teammate will ruin the fun faster than anything else.
Pool Noodle Relay
Ages: 5 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: 1 pool noodle per team
Each swimmer has to ride the pool noodle like a horse while kicking their way across the pool and back. When they return, they hand off the noodle to the next teammate.
This one is hilarious to watch because pool noodles are not designed for speed. Swimmers end up flailing, spinning in circles, and generally looking ridiculous. That is exactly why it works so well at parties.
For younger kids, let them hold the noodle any way they want. For teens and adults, enforce the horse-riding position for maximum comedy.
Kickboard Relay
Ages: 5 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: 1 kickboard per team
Swimmers hold a kickboard in front of them and kick their way across the pool and back. No arm strokes allowed. This levels the playing field nicely because even strong swimmers are limited by their kicking speed.
Variation: Place a cup of water on top of the kickboard. Swimmers have to kick across the pool without spilling it. The team that finishes with the most water still in their cup gets bonus points (or the win, if you want to make it the deciding factor).
Backward Relay
Ages: 8 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: None
Exactly what it sounds like. Swimmers have to swim backward across the pool and back. You can do backstroke if you want to keep it somewhat normal, or you can require swimmers to face the starting wall and swim backward without turning around. The second option is much harder and much funnier.
This relay works great for groups with mixed swimming abilities because speed matters less when everyone is awkwardly swimming in the wrong direction. It is also a good one for adults who want something more challenging than a basic swim relay. If you enjoy pool games that do not require equipment, this is a solid pick.
Float Relay
Ages: 6 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: 1 pool float per team
Give each team a pool float. The first swimmer has to climb onto the float, paddle across the pool using only their hands, climb off at the far wall, and then swim the float back to the next teammate. Or you can have them paddle both ways on the float for an even bigger challenge.
The key here is the float. Use something that is not designed for speed, like a big lounger or a novelty float. Watching someone try to paddle a giant flamingo across the pool at competitive speed is peak pool party entertainment.
Underwater Relay
Ages: 10 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: None
Swimmers have to swim underwater across the pool. If they come up for air before reaching the wall, they have to go back to where they surfaced and continue from there. Then they swim (above water) back to tag the next person.
Safety note: This relay is for strong swimmers only. Make sure every participant is comfortable swimming underwater, and have a lifeguard or responsible adult watching at all times. Keep the distance reasonable. If your pool is longer than about 40 feet, set up the turnaround point at the halfway mark instead of the far wall.
This relay adds genuine suspense because you can see the swimmers underwater and everyone is counting the seconds until they surface.
Cup-on-Head Relay
Ages: 8 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: Plastic cups, water
Place a filled plastic cup on each swimmer’s head. They have to walk or swim across the pool and back without the cup falling off. If it falls, they pick it up, refill it at the edge, place it back on their head, and continue from where it fell.
This works better as a walking relay in shallow water, especially for younger kids. Adults can try it in chest-deep water for an extra challenge. The team with the most water remaining in their cups at the end wins tiebreakers.
Clothes Relay
Ages: 8 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: Oversized t-shirt and shorts for each team
Set up a pile of oversized clothes at the far end of the pool. The first swimmer races across, puts on the shirt and shorts over their swimsuit, swims back, takes the clothes off, and hands them to the next swimmer. That person puts the clothes on, swims across, takes them off at the far end, swims back, and tags the next person. The pattern alternates.
Swimming in clothes is surprisingly difficult, which is what makes this race entertaining. The clothes get heavy when wet and create serious drag. This one always produces a lot of laughing and struggling.
T-Shirt Relay (Variation)
Ages: 10 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: 1 oversized t-shirt per team
A simpler version of the clothes relay. Each team gets one soaking wet oversized t-shirt. The first swimmer puts it on, swims across and back, then peels it off and hands it to the next person. Getting a wet t-shirt off and on is the real challenge here.
Treasure Hunt Relay
Ages: 6 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: Diving toys or weighted objects
Scatter diving toys or weighted objects across the pool bottom. Each swimmer dives in, retrieves one object, brings it back to their team’s bucket, and tags the next swimmer. The team that collects the most objects in a set time wins.
You can assign point values to different objects to add strategy. Gold coins worth 5 points, rings worth 3, sticks worth 1. Swimmers have to decide whether to grab the closest object or swim farther for the high-value ones.
This relay works especially well at pool parties for kids because it combines the excitement of a race with the fun of a treasure hunt.
Ping Pong Ball Relay
Ages: 6 and up | Teams: 2-4 teams of 3-5 swimmers | Equipment: Ping pong balls (1 per team)
Each swimmer has to push a ping pong ball across the pool using only their nose or by blowing on it. No hands allowed. When they reach the far wall, they grab the ball, swim back, and hand it to the next teammate.
This is one of the funniest relays to watch because ping pong balls do not cooperate. They float away, they drift with every splash, and the swimmers end up looking like they are bobbing for apples. Younger kids especially love this one.
Relay Race Organization Tips
Running relay races smoothly takes a bit of planning. Here are the things that make the biggest difference.
Setting Up Teams
Try to balance the teams by mixing ages and abilities. Put one strong swimmer, one average swimmer, and one beginner on each team rather than stacking all the fast kids together. This keeps races competitive and prevents blowouts.
For large groups, you can run multiple heats and have the winning teams face off in a final round. Tournament-style brackets work great if you have 4 or more teams. If you are working with a big group, our guide to pool games for large groups has more ideas for organizing activities.
Judging and Rules
Assign someone who is not racing to be the judge. Their job is to watch for false starts, make sure swimmers tag properly, and settle disputes. This role is crucial. Without a neutral judge, every close race will end in an argument.
Safety Considerations
Keep these in mind for every relay:
- Make sure all swimmers can touch the bottom or are comfortable in deep water
- No diving off the side during relays. Swimmers should enter from in the water
- Keep the pool area around the starting line clear. Wet concrete and running do not mix
- Have towels and water available. Relay races are more tiring than they look
- For anything involving underwater swimming, have an adult spotter at all times
Keeping It Fun
If you are running multiple relay types back to a back, mix up the order from serious to silly. Start with the classic swim relay when energy is high, then move to the pool noodle relay or clothes relay when people need a laugh. End with something like the treasure hunt relay that feels less like a race and more like a game.
Award small prizes for the winning team, but also give out goofy awards like “most dramatic finish” or “best wipeout.” Keeping the mood light prevents the competitive types from taking things too seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people do you need for pool relay races?
You need at least 6 people to run a basic relay with two teams of three. That said, relays get better with more people. Teams of 4-5 swimmers are ideal because everyone gets a turn without waiting too long between swims. For really large groups, run 3-4 teams simultaneously or set up a tournament bracket. You can also check out our guide to pool games for large groups for more ideas.
What age is appropriate for pool relay races?
Most relay variations work for kids ages 6 and up, as long as they can swim independently. Underwater relays should be reserved for ages 10 and up with strong swimming skills. For mixed-age groups, choose relays like the pool noodle relay or treasure hunt relay that do not depend heavily on swimming speed, so younger kids can compete without feeling outmatched.
How do you keep relay races fair with different skill levels?
Balance the teams by mixing ages and abilities rather than letting people pick their own groups. You can also add handicap rules, like giving younger swimmers a head start or requiring adult swimmers to use a specific stroke. Choosing silly relay formats like the clothes relay or cup-on-head relay helps too because raw speed matters less when everyone is struggling with the same ridiculous challenge.
What equipment do you need for pool relay races?
Many relays need nothing at all. For the variations that do require equipment, you probably already have what you need. Pool noodles, kickboards, pool floats, plastic cups, diving toys, ping pong balls, and oversized t-shirts are all common household items. No specialized gear required.