SARASOTA COUNTY — Pickleball player John Foard looks forward to getting some of his own back this year at the 24th annual Gulf Coast Senior Games, taking place in the Sarasota-Manatee County area from Feb. 19-24.

Foard, a 69-year-old North Port resident, competed in the games last year and finished in fourth place in his age bracket for the pickleball doubles category — just out of medal contention. He said the sport was invented in Seattle back in 1965 and has spread across the country like wildfire.