Weighted Pool Arches Sets

Set up your own underwater obstacle course using unique arches. Polyethylene plastic arches feature internal metal ends that sink in the water, while also ensuring the arch itself stands perpendicular to the bottom. Drainage holes in each end add extra weight to keep them in place and allow water to drain when no longer in use. The bright orange color is easy to spot as swimmers make their way through the pool obstacle course. Each arch is 21-1/2”W x 27-1/2”H x 1” thick; 2-1/4 lb.

15 Aquatic Activities Using Weighted Pool Arches

The Weighted Pool Arches from Gopher Sport are a unique and versatile aquatic tool designed to create colorful, adjustable underwater tunnels. With weighted bases that keep the arches firmly in place, they stay upright in the water, making them ideal for diving, swimming, and obstacle-based skill development. These arches provide a fun and functional way to enhance aquatic movement by allowing students to swim under, around, and through them while building fundamental movement skills such as breath control, balance, coordination, agility, and spatial awareness. Below are 15 unique activity ideas that utilize the arches to their fullest in any pool-based PE setting.

1. Aqua Tunnel Traverse: Students swim through a series of Weighted Pool Arches set in a line, focusing on smooth gliding and breath control. Encourages underwater locomotion and coordination.

2. Rainbow Relay Race: Divide students into teams. Each must swim through all arches before tagging the next teammate. Develops teamwork, swimming, and spatial navigation.

3. Glide and Guide Challenge: In pairs, one student swims through arches while the other guides them using hand signals. Promotes partner communication and directional awareness.

4. Dive and Discover: Place dive rings beyond the arches. Students dive through the arches to retrieve and return them. Combines diving, retrieval, and agility.

5. Gator Crawl Tunnel Trot: In shallow water, students use an alligator crawl motion to move under the arches. Builds core strength and low-profile movement control.

6. Flip and Float Pathway: After performing a flip in the water, students float through each arch on their backs. Enhances rotational movement and float control.

7. Timed Tunnel Trek: Challenge students to complete a set of arches in a certain amount of time while maintaining stroke technique. Builds endurance and pacing skills.

8. Backstroke Bullseye: Students attempt to swim backstroke and pass cleanly under the arches. Encourages backward swimming accuracy and control.

9. Rainbow Swim and Stretch: After swimming through each arch, students pause to perform a water-based stretch (arms, legs, core). Supports flexibility and recovery.

10. Hoop-Hop Aquatic Obstacle: Combine DuraHoop Swimming Hoops and Pool Arches into a complete aquatic obstacle course. Encourages sequencing, endurance, and agility.

11. Follow the Leader Flow: One student leads a line of swimmers through arches, choosing swimming styles. Others mimic their movements. Builds following skills and creativity.

12. Zigzag Zoom Swim: Place arches in a zigzag pattern across the pool. Students swim through them in sequence. Trains change-of-direction and body control.

13. Mirror Swim Tunnel Tag: In pairs, students swim side-by-side through arches, trying to stay synchronized. Reinforces coordination and visual alignment.

14. Float, Flip & Find: Students float under one arch, perform a flip, and then find the next arch to continue. Combines balance, spatial orientation, and momentum use.

15. Countdown Crawl Course: Students crawl through each arch while a countdown timer runs. Each pass under an arch adds a point. Promotes crawling coordination and aquatic urgency.