How to Play Chicken in Water

Last Updated: December 29, 2021 References

The game of chicken - also known as shoulder wars or chicken fight - is a pool game that involves knocking your opponent off of their partner's shoulders. It can be a ton of fun, as long as you play safely.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Prepping Before Playing

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Find a body of water to play in. Beaches and lakes that are meant for swimming can be good places to play this game so if you have one close to where you live, you could go there. Make sure that there are no large rocks nearby, as some beaches have rocks in the water.^{[1]
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- You could also play in a large swimming pool. Playing this game in a bigger swimming pool decreases your risk of hitting your head on the concrete so if you or your friends own a huge swimming pool, you can do it there too.
- If you're at a public swimming pool ask the lifeguard if playing the game is against the rules - a lot of public swimming pools have banned guests from playing this game due to safety concerns.
- Don't play this game in anyone else's swimming pool without asking, doing so can get you in trouble and can be dangerous.^{[2]
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2
Avoid playing the game in unsafe places. Make sure that the body of water is deep enough and large enough to not get hit when falling off someone's shoulder.
- Never play this game in a small swimming pool or on dry land, doing so could cause serious injury. Serious injuries are no fun so if you don't want to get them then don't play this game in unsafe places.
- Other unsafe places to play this game are rivers where there are large rocks in the water.^{[3]
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3
Ask other people to join you. You will need at least 3 other people to play chicken. You can ask anyone, including friends, parents, or siblings. If your relatives are busy, you can see if a few friends can come over.
- If you're at home be sure to get your parents' permission before you play.
- This is much safer when you play it at the beach but a huge swimming pool works too. ^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Understanding the Rules

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Find a partner. One will be standing, and the other will be on their shoulders. This is the main part of the game so it's very important that one can stand with the other on their shoulders.
- If your partner is bigger than you, it would be easier for you to be on top.
2
Know the goal of the game. Getting your opponent into the water means that you have won. You need to do whatever you can to separate the opposing team without breaking the rules. For example, try to push or pull your opponent into the water without purposely trying to hurt them. Whoever separates the opposing team will be the winner.
3
Play fairly. Playful pushing and grabbing is encouraged because it's part of the game. However rough and unfair play is against the rules and can even be dangerous.
- Unfair play includes hitting, biting, kicking, and hair-pulling. Tickling your opponent to get them into the water is against the rules too.
- The vehicles must not fight each other. If you're the vehicle - the person on the bottom - don't attack the other vehicle to separate the opposing team. Just like rough play, this is against the rules too.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Starting the Game

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Climb on your partner's shoulders or let them climb on your shoulders. This step depends on your partner's size.
- If you're the vehicle, hold your partner's legs so that they don't fall off of your shoulders before you start the game.^{[5]
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2
Do whatever means necessary to get your opponent into the water. The basic goal of the game is to separate the opposing team so do whatever you can to get your opponent into the water such as playful pushing or grabbing. However don't purposely try to hurt them, doing so is against the rules.
3
Follow the rules. Remember, the rules are in place to keep you safe, so it's important to follow them. As stated above not following the rules of the game is dangerous and can even put you or your friend in the hospital.