IRON MOUNTAIN — Pickleball is coming to the Northern Lights YMCA Dickinson Center.

Beginning with the start of the YMCA’s winter session, open pickleball will be played twice a week.

“Pickleball is a growing sport, suitable for people of all abilities, and it is extremely popular in our area,” NLYMCA Center Director Ron Deuter said. “We’re excited to be working with a group of local pickleball enthusiasts to bring this activity to the Y, introduce new players to the sport and continue to help our community get and stay active.”

Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball, over a net. Instructors will teach new players scoring and how to play.

The YMCA will host open/drop-in pickleball from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and also 7:30 to 10:15 a.m. Saturdays. It will be free to YMCA members. Non-members would need to purchase a day pass. Some equipment will be available for new players.

Helping lead the introduction of pickleball at YMCA will be Iron Mountain resident Mark Young. A 58-year-old player with an approximate 4.0 rating, Young has played ping pong and tennis on and off since high school. After trying pickleball one time July 2019 at an informal introductory workshop at Stanton courts on the north side, he went home and ordered a paddle that day. Young plays three to six days a week if there are opportunities. Young is a big supporter of the game and introducing new players to the sport.

The YMCA plans to run pickleball through the first two winter sessions. Should participation warrant, it will be extended into future sessions.

Non-members interested in joining the YMCA can take advantage of a special running all January. The Y will be running a Commit to Fit special, taking 25% off the joining fee upon sign-up and then providing April free to those who remain active with their membership.

For more information, go to www.nlymca.com/dickinson or call 906-774-4076.