how does the pool pump work?

We were given an Intex above ground pool. We have no directions to it. We have set it up and turned on the pump. We hooked all tubes according to directions yet it seems to be pumping backwards. Are we doing something wrong?

Hi
It is a little hard to tell without a photo but I would guess the hoses are just hooked up backwards. The suction line at the pool should be connected to either a skimmer or a strainer of some type. That is the hose that connects to the pump. The hose coming out of the filter goes to the pool return. The return could just be the hose going straight into the pool with no fittings or it could be connected to a directional flow fitting of some type.

The pump sucks the water out of the pool and forces it threw the filter and back into the pool. The only way to cross things up is if the pump is sucking water out of the return and forcing it back into the pool threw the skimmer.