Today we’d like to introduce you to Keca Ward.
Hi Keca, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey with Forward Pickleball started as a pickleball instructor teaching lessons in a small indoor facility with just one court. As I worked with new and experienced players, I quickly saw the incredible growth potential of the sport and recognized the need for larger, dedicated indoor spaces where people could play year-round.
I shared that vision with my husband, who has a builder’s mindset and immediately saw the opportunity as well. Together, we began searching for a facility that could accommodate multiple courts and create the kind of pickleball community we believed was possible.
Forward Pickleball was founded with the goal of providing more than just a place to play. We wanted to create a welcoming environment where players of all skill levels could learn, improve, compete, and connect with others. What started as a vision for a larger playing space has grown into a thriving pickleball community offering open play, leagues, clinics, lessons, tournaments, and social events.
What makes me most proud isn’t just the growth of the business, it’s seeing friendships form, families play together, and new players discover a sport that truly brings people together. As pickleball continues to grow, we’re excited to keep building a place where players feel welcome and where the sport can continue to thrive.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Like many small businesses, we’ve faced challenges with finding the right facility, managing growth, staffing, and navigating the uncertainties that come with building a business in a rapidly growing sport. As one of the earlier dedicated indoor pickleball facilities in our area, there wasn’t really a roadmap to follow. We’ve learned a lot through trial and error, but each challenge has helped us build a stronger business and a better experience for our members
As you know, we’re big fans of Forward Pickleball. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Forward Pickleball is a premier indoor pickleball facility dedicated to growing the game and building community. We offer open play, leagues, clinics, lessons, tournaments, and social events for players of all ages and skill levels. What sets us apart is our 12 spacious indoor courts and our commitment to providing a clean, modern, and welcoming environment. As the sport continues to grow, players need quality space to play, compete, and connect, and we are one of the few facilities in the area that can accommodate both recreational and competitive players comfortably. We also pride ourselves on creating unique experiences through events like Glow Pickleball and other social activities that make the sport fun and accessible for everyone. Most of all, we’re proud of the community we’ve built—one where friendships are formed, people stay active, and everyone feels welcome on and off the court.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think luck has definitely played a role in our success, particularly when it comes to our location. We were fortunate to find an indoor space that serves both the King of Prussia and Montgomery County communities and is conveniently located near several major roadways. That accessibility has made it easy for players to visit us from across the region and has been especially beneficial for our tournaments. Our most recent tournament attracted more than 275 players from up and down the East Coast. While we’ve worked hard to build the business, the strategic location of our facility has been a pleasant surprise and has created opportunities we couldn’t have fully anticipated when we started.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.forwardpickleball.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forward.pickleball/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kecapickleball/
- LinkedIn: forwardpickleball
