Marco Polo

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The game of Marco Polo (English pronunciation: /ˈmɑrkoʊ ˈpoʊloʊ/  ( listen)) is a form of tag played in a swimming pool. The game is popular in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Singapore and Iran.

Rules

The game takes place in a swimming pool and requires three or more players. There is one distinguished player, called "It," who stays still for a set number of seconds while the remainder of the players disperse around the pool. The It player then begins to swim around the pool, keeping his or her eyes closed, attempting to tag the other players. The It player can only sense where the other players are by sound, but may call out "Marco!" All the other players are required to respond with "Polo!" When the It player succeeds in tagging another player, the latter becomes the person that is It.

Variations

There are a few common minor variations. Fish-out-of-water allows the non-"It" players to get out of the pool (thus protecting themselves from being tagged by the water-bound "It"), however, should "It" call "fish out of water" while some one is out of the pool, that person becomes "It." If there is more than one person out of the water, the person who is "It" has the choice of picking anyone out of water to become "It." If "It" should call fish-out-of-water when nobody is out of the pool, "It" must redo the beforehand count.

"Mermaid on rocks" is a variant itself of fish-out-of-water. This is when a person is sitting on the ledge of the pool with their legs in but their body is out. When the "it" person calls "mermaid on rocks," and if someone is doing this, they are "It".

Alligator Eyes allows "It" to call out "alligator eyes" or "submarine" and then swim underwater with eyes open for one breath. Usually, "It" is limited to one use of alligator eyes. Other variations on this rule allow "It" to look around underwater but not to move until he or she is above water with eyes closed once again.

A superficial variation of this game demonstrates to students how whales and dolphins navigate by echolocation.

For Asian countries, or more specifically, Singapore, in the case where the entirety of the name "Markopolo" is called out, the immediate word following it, should be that of "TAN" (pronounced "t-ah-n" and not as in 'sun tan'). This may be used to test the reflexes of a specific person, and to assess the intellectual capacity of the said individual.

See also

• Hide and seek

References