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Pickleball was created in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington.  The original purpose of the game was to provide a sport for the entire family, according to co-inventors Barney McCallum, William Bell and former U.S. Rep. Joel Pritchard.  The game got its name from Pickles, the family dog that would chase after errant balls and hide them in the bushes — hence, Pickles’ ball.

Since the mid-1970s, pickleball has evolved from a family activity to a net-court sport with formalized rules.  Today, the sport is played throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Japan, Singapore and western Europe.  In the 1980s, a national organization — the USA Pickleball Association — was formed and now has more than 20,000 members.  Pickleball courts can now be found in many fitness centers, parks, educational institutions and correctional facilities.