Tri-town residents who are looking for something to do this summer have a new option in Mattapoisett – pickleball.

After being introduced to pickleball by a friend, Don Bamberger approached the Mattapoisett Recreation Department about potentially getting a league started in town. To his delight, the answer from Mattapoisett Recreation Director Greta Fox was yes.

“[Fox] was instantaneously supportive,” Bamberger said. “Mattapoisett rec bought two portable nets, paddles and balls.”

Pickleball could best be described as a hybrid between tennis and ping pong – players use paddles to hit light plastic balls over waist-high nets on a badminton-sized court.

The origins of the game, according to the USA Pickleball Association, can be traced back to 1965 in Bainbrige Island, Washington. It was invented after former congressman Joel Pritchard and his friend Bill Bell returned to Pritchard’s home after a round of golf and found their families with nothing to do.

The Pritchard’s property had an old badminton court, but the men could not find any equipment. They made due with what they had, plastic balls with holes in them and ping pong paddles, and thus the game was born.

The origins of the name, however, is a little more fuzzy. One story is that Pritchard’s wife said the game, being the combination of other sports, reminded her of the pickle boat in crew, where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats. The second story is that the Pritchards had a dog named Pickles who would chase the ball and run off with it.

However it got its name, the sport is growing and has made its way to Mattapoisett.

“Last week we had 21 people here playing,” Bamberger said. “It’s the fastest growing sport in the country. It’s very popular in the south.”

He also mentioned that because the court is smaller, the sport is perfect for an aging population.

“It’s very popular with older communities because tennis is hard on your knees,” Bamberger said. “In pickleball you get a good workout, but you’re not covering as much ground.”

However, Lisa Thibeault, a physical education teacher at New Bedford High School, said she has introduced the game to all her classes, and it was evident the sport is for everyone.

“It’s for any age, not just older people,” she said.

The league in Mattapoisett welcomes people of all ages, and Bamberger encourages people to come out to the courts behind Center School.

“I’m hoping that we can get a group of people here every day,” he said. “People can do tournaments and we have can have a daily champion.”

Bamberger said anyone who is interested in playing pickleball is welcome to just show up to play at 6 p.m. on Thursdays at the courts behind Center School.