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Why Are Teenagers Wearing Goggles in Public? (It’s Not What You Think).
If you’ve spotted teenagers wearing goggles in public, or wandering the grocery store or neighborhood in water wings or full pool floaties lately, you’re not alone — and there’s a perfectly good explanation.
They’re playing Senior Assassin.
What Is Senior Assassin?
Senior Assassin is a student-run elimination game played in the final weeks of senior year. Students pay a small buy-in fee, get secretly assigned a target, and try to spray that person with a water gun before getting hit themselves. Eliminate your target, inherit their target, and keep going. The last player (or team) standing wins the cash prize.
Think of it as a grown-up, city-wide version of Manhunt, Jailbreak, or Tag — except with water guns, a cash prize, and a lot more strategy.
So, Why Are these Teenagers Wearing Goggles?
Wearing certain items, like swim goggles, water wings, floaties, life jackets, etc., acts as a temporary shield. If teenagers are wearing goggles in public or wearing their gear in public, they can’t be eliminated. It adds a fun layer of strategy to the game, which is why you might spot a senior in full pool gear on a regular Tuesday afternoon.
Solo or Teams — How Does It Work?
Some schools play individually, but many play in teams of two to six players who work together to track down and eliminate their assigned target. Teams usually come up with water-themed names, divide up the strategy, and watch each other’s backs.
In team versions, the rules around elimination vary — sometimes the whole team is out if one member is hit, and sometimes just that player is eliminated. Like most things in Senior Assassin, it depends on whoever is running the game at your school.
How to Play Senior Assassin
Here’s the basic setup:
- Sign up through a Google Form or App and pay a small entry fee (usually a few dollars)
- You’ll be secretly assigned a target (individual or team)
- Spray your target with a water gun to eliminate them — then you inherit their target (Be sure to have video proof of your elimination!)
- Keep eliminating targets until only one player or team is left
- The last one standing wins the entire prize pool
Most games are managed through group chats, shared spreadsheets, or dedicated apps.
Senior Assassin Rules
Rules can vary by school, but these are the most common ones you’ll see:
- No school grounds: campus, parking lots, and school events are all off-limits
- No trespassing: Students can only enter a home if a resident genuinely invites you in
- Video proof required: eliminations must be recorded and submitted to count
- Round deadlines: fail to eliminate your target within the round (often 5–7 days), and you’re out
- No moving vehicle kills: both players must be on foot or fully parked
- Bright, toy-looking water guns only: realistic-looking guns have caused police calls in past games
- Safe zones: places of worship, workplaces, and volunteering spots are typically protected
- Gear: Again, the question of “why are teenagers wearing goggles in public?” comes back to this one. The specific gear keeps you safe.
Best Senior Assassin Apps
Some schools manage everything through group chats, but there are a few apps designed specifically for the game. Here are a few examples:
- Splashin — lets players view targets, manage team games, and use in-game maps to track opponents. Available on iOS and Android.
- HuntinHuntin — offers instant target assignments, automated round advancement, and built-in safety reminders.
- SLAP IRL — focuses on a “real-life battle royale” format with leaderboards and in-game objectives.
A Quick Safety Note for Parents and Players
Please make sure any water gun used is bright, colorful, and clearly looks like a toy. This is more important than it sounds. Realistic-looking water guns have caused genuine police calls in communities across the country, and in some cases, students have been detained or arrested because someone mistook their water gun for a real weapon. A neon pink or bright orange water squirter is always the right call.
The Bottom Line
Senior Assassin is one of those end-of-year traditions that looks a little strange from the outside, but makes perfect sense once you know what’s going on. So, if you spot a teenager wearing goggles in public, like at the grocery store or walking around the neighborhood, smile and know that they’re making the most of their last few weeks of senior year.
If you’re in the thick of the teen years and looking for more, here are a few of our most-read posts for parents of teenagers:
