SUQUAMISH — With the bounce of a Wiffle Ball and the excited giggles of children in the background, members of the Suquamish community learned a new game, named after an old dog.

To celebrate the completion of revamping the Suquamish Sports Court dedicated to the sport, residents swung by the Suquamish Elementary Gym Wednesday night for pickleball lessons.

Local pickleball enthusiast and PE teacher David Byers took up the paddle to show folks how it’s done.

“I’m glad the adults showed interest in learning the game,” he said. “I actually promote the game in my class because it’s easy to learn, and anyone can play it. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to play.”

The game started out on Bainbridge Island, when Bill Bell and Joel Pritchard found their children getting bored during the summer of 1965. The two had stumbled upon a game so inviting that not only their children — but also the family dog Pickles — enjoyed it. They created rules, and soon had friends and other family members playing the game. The pastime gained popularity, and is now played worldwide.

The game returned to within a stone’s throw of it’s inception, however, when Suquamish Community Advisory Committee member Sharon Nichols, who is chairwoman of the parks and open spaces sub-committee, decided to clean up the pickleball court on McKinstry Street. After work was completed, Nichols and her fellow workers laid down their paint rollers and picked up paddles.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what this game is like,” said Suquamish resident Madrigal Saas. “I’m sure it will be a lot of fun. It looks like the kids are having fun already.”

Before lessons commenced, the kids, who all had learned to play pickleball in their own PE classes, were hard at work showing how well they could hit the Wiffle Ball. The adults learned quickly, and were soon volleying and playing against one another and the six kids in attendance.

“The nice thing about this game is anyone can play it,” Byers said. “Everyone, from the older population who don’t move as quickly, to the young athletes that rocket the ball back and forth, can play this game.”

Suquamish resident Julia Smith said she wasn’t sure if she would play after learning the basic rules.

“I’m having knee surgery next month, to get my knee replaced,” Smith said, adding that until that point, her knee isn’t much use. She was able to play nonetheless.

“We may organize a tournament at the court,” Nichols said. “Anyone can play there, as soon as the county gets the nets up.”

The court is now complete with a pickleball set and laminated rules for those who were unable to attend the lesson. Byers said if there’s more interest from a group or organization, he would be happy to teach others.

“I think it would be excellent if more people knew how to play this game,” he said.