BASKETBALL

Pool Toys and Games — Increase Summer Fun with Budget Friendly Options

Backyard swimming pools can be the heart of summertime fun and activity when you bring pool toys and swimming pool games into the picture.  Pool toys and swimming pool games allow you to do more with your pool than just float, swim, and enjoy the sun’s rays.  They add extra fun to neighborhood parties and family get togethers and allow you to take full advantage of the swimming season, which sometimes seems way too short.  A wide variety of toys and games for pools are available, from the more common basketball and volleyball sets, to the less common remote controlled boats and toss games.  Choosing the right pool toys and games depends only on your family’s preferences and on how much you are willing to spend.

Two of the more commonly known pool toys and swimming pool games are basketball and volleyball.  Swimming pool basketball games that float on the surface of the water are generally the least expensive of the basketball pool toys, and they are particularly fun for kids.  These can be inflatable or pop up, which makes storing them away easy.  At the other end of the spectrum of basketball pool toys are those made for the serious basketball enthusiast.  These come with durable bases which can be filled with water, a reinforced backboard, adjustable rust-proof metal rim, and regulation size ball.

Just like with the basketball pool toys, you’ll find volleyball sets for pools that range in cost based on the quality and number of features available.  Better quality volleyball sets are rugged enough to be used in both backyard and commercial pools.  All volleyball sets should come with sturdy posts, but the material out of which the post is constructed will be one feature that can influence the price of the product. Another feature that can determine cost is the net.  Some nets are adjustable in height and length so that they allow you to create a custom fit for your specific pool. If the net is not described as adjustable, make sure that its size is appropriate for your pool. For in ground pools, some volleyball sets come with weighted bases for stability, while others have heavy-duty plastic bases which, when filled with water, help prevent the net from flopping or collapsing into the pool during active play.  For above ground pools, volleyball sets will often come with special brackets that attach to the pool’s top rail. 

Some of the less commonly known pool toys and swimming pool games include remote controlled boats and toss games.  Remote controlled boats are pool toys made for everyone’s enjoyment, regardless of athletic ability, and they can be controlled while you are in the pool or while you are relaxing in a lounger.  A favorite choice among pool owners is the boat that doubles as a skimmer. Remote controlled pool skimmers make the cleaning up of leaves and surface debris a much more entertaining occupation.  Also, you can invent your own unique games with a remote controlled pool skimmer and score points with every bit of debris collected.  Another fun remote controlled boat resembles a flying saucer and squirts water at the touch of a button.  You can surprise an unwitting friend with a stream of water shot from twenty feet away — just be sure your friend is a good sport.

Classic yard games, like ring toss and bag toss games, can also be enjoyed in the swimming pool.  These pool toys bring a great deal of fun to pool parties and small family gatherings, but they can also be played by a single person.  You can play while in the water, or you can toss the rings or bags onto the floating structure from the seat of a comfortable lounge chair.  Ring toss and bag toss swimming pool games, as well as remote controlled boats, tend to be more budget friendly than the standard basketball or volleyball sets for pools, but you should still be able to find any of these types of pool toys in a reasonable price range. 

In sum, Making the right decision can be easy when choosing from the many types of pool toys and swimming pool games that are available if you keep in mind your family’s play preferences as well as your budget.  No matter what toys you choose to buy, adding pool toys and games to your backyard summer fun can encourage you to more fully take advantage of your swimming pool experience.

About the Author

Trey Collier is owner of BackyardCityPools.com –  North America’s finest resource for quality pool supplies, including a wide selection of Pool Toys and Swimming Pool Games.

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