Photo by Dwayne Black Larry Jeska, left, and Ron McKenzie play pickleball the Marshall Area YMCA on Jan. 7.

A growing number of Marshall residents are becoming captivated with the ever increasingly popular game of pickleball — and they have good reason.

Invented by a family in Washington State in 1965, it’s named after the “pickle boat,” the boat made up of rowing crew members who were not picked up for the principle boats, and so are placed together in the “pickle boat.” (This pickle boat term originally came from fishing — the last boat to come in, stayed out to “pickle” the fish in brine.)

Likewise, pickleball was created when the family couldn’t find the shuttlecock to play badminton, but had the paddles from paddleball, a short tennis net, and a Wiffle Ball. The leftovers of these sports were put together into an entirely new one.

The result is a game that is a bit like a tennis and table tennis crossover.

Played as either singles or doubles, a hard paddle is used to hit a plastic ball with several holes across the net at their opponents.

While there are a number of different rules that can be a bit confusing at the start, (including the non-volley zone, commonly referred to as “the kitchen”) it has a relatively short learning curve, which can make it an easy sport to pick up and play among multiple age groups.

The play at the net can move quite fast, but it’s very low impact, making it ideal for players of all ages, but especially for those who are looking for exercise into advancing age.

The footwork and coordination can help improve balance and the light movement can help improve blood flow, lower cholesterol, and prevent osteoporosis.

The hand-eye coordination needed, especially for quick shots at the net and of course the strategy involved, works cognition and reaction speed.

But ultimately, it’s enjoyable — and local players have flocked to the leagues that have been held in Marshall throughout the year at the YMCA, on the outdoor courts by Legion Field, and at the Marshall Middle School, hosted by Marshall Community Recreation.

Marshall Area Pickleball partnered with Avera and hosted a tournament during the sounds of summer celebration in August which will hopefully be on the calendar every year going forward — garnering participants from nearby towns, or even some not so nearby cities.

On any given morning at the YMCA you may find up to 20 people playing some pick up pickleball games. And chances are, they would love to teach you how to play.

That’s how Alison Ufkin, of Minneota got her start. She’s been swimming and taking group classes at the YMCA for years, but about four or five years ago, she decided to give pickleball a shot.

“I thought it looked fun, I would see the other pickleballers playing down in the gym and so I gathered up my courage and just went down there one day and they taught me how to play.”

“I found that the rules were kind of tricky but once you start playing the rules kind of fall into place and then you get used to them.”

She says that not only has it been great exercise, and a blast to play, it’s the social aspect that is particularly endearing and has been a great boon for her mental health.

“It’s been wonderful — the social aspect of playing pickleball is very invigorating…it’s just super fun. It’s a happy sport to me. Very happy.”

Watching a game of pickleball you can see why. The pace of the game allows for conversation to flow during the game, and it’s got an easy going feel, players tease and support each other in equal measure — complementing shots, both from teammates as well as from opponents.

“All the pickleballers that play down there are very friendly and want you to be better pickleballers” says Alison.

“I want people to feel free to go down there, like I did and just ask for help if you’ve never played before. You can borrow a paddle from the YMCA, you don’t need any equipment except tennis shoes and some comfortable clothes. Tell people you haven’t played before and they’ll help you out.”

The style of the game has been perfect for Alison as well, as she has moved through retirement.

“I play at my level and I’m not going to dive after the ball, because I’m smarter than that. I try not to be too crazy down there …and the people my age are pretty sensible about knowing their limitations but we still manage to have a great time playing.”

Alison tries to play once a week, and with the new league starting up again at the YMCA on the 15th, she’s looking forward to the consistent weeks of playing.

The game is also unique in that it’s very easy to integrate players of all skill levels and ages. And It’s impossible to walk onto a pickleball court and not find enthusiastic young players taking up the pickleball charge.

A group of players in their mid 20s plays regularly, and after only a few months of play, James LeRoy shared it’s “quickly become (his) favorite thing.”

Claire Clarke agrees and then laughs as she reports, “I like whacking it so hard at your opponents they don’t see it coming.”

But, for Abbey LeRoy, and for many others in the pickleball community here in Marshall, it’s the people playing it that keeps her coming back: “I like the social aspect of it — we’ve made a lot of new friends and have even made a little ‘game gang.’ “

The purpose of exercise is to move our bodies and to enjoy the movement, and pickleball checks both those boxes in permanent marker. But this sport seems to go even farther: It’s human nature to long for community, and pickleballers here have certainly found one on the court, and all of them seem to want more people to pick up a paddle.