Oakville Aquatic Club

Good level of a club, most of the coaches are good, BUT! There is this one, couch Melanie, extremely agreste with the kids, they train under a extremely stressful environment, as soon the kids move to her group, they get demotivated, and intimidated by her, most likely they quit the sport.
Not good, very surprise that she is not in trouble because of the old fashioned method she implement,
Disappointed the club doesn't do anything about that.

Some teenagers teach the kids two times every week in the QECC. Backstroke start was wrong from the 1st meeting until now, I am checking his other swimming problems, From joining the club, I have a lot of work to do do, watching Youtube and learning, then teaching my son. It’s hard to find any difference between community center swimming class and this level training in the club. I am thinking about when I should leave this club. Wasting time to swim in such early morning every week. Disappointed!

I have been working with this club for 14 years. I can't say enough about their professionalism, interest in the kids and fantastic coaching. This is a well run swim club!

I swam with OAK for years, and was so upset when a injury stopped me from swimming. I loved all the coaches I had, and I learned so much from each and everyone of them.

I swam with the Oakville Aquatic Club for 8 years. My main coach was Mel and I am thoroughly thankful for everything she taught me. I learned my strength, I learned discipline, respect and what hard work really is and how hard work pays off. She was tough but I needed a coach like her to show me that you need to put your soul into the sport to do your best.

Now that I'm older, I see how much work Mel had put into me and into everyone else. She's honest, loyal and fierce. The competitive drive that I learned in OAK helps me through my life and I apply it all around. I am hungry to strive for the best life that I can create for myself. I believe that everyone needs to learn those same set of skills and traits that I learned. It was tough love, but that's what the real world is.

Couldn't be more thankful.

Horrible team. Avoid at all costs. Poor communication. Poorly run events. I've only had my son on the team a year. I am looking for a new team for him.

A long overdue appreciation statement.

We have been members of OAK for 4 years and have had nothing but a positive experience.  We have a very good understanding of the Club and its structure  as we have several swimmers in the family, who at one time or another, have swam as part of almost every group and level within the Club.   There are very few Clubs within Canada that are able to cater to such a wide range of swimming, from the very basic skills and fitness objectives to making the Olympic dream a reality.   Our eldest who has since retired from the competitive swimming regime has used her skills and gone on to become a gainfully employed Life Guard and Swimming Instructor within our community, while we have others chasing the highest of competitive potential, while our youngest seems to lie somewhere in between.

Oak coaches are second to none. We have interacted with almost all of the coaches within the Club at one point or other and have grown to trust them and their coaching abilities.  We have found them all to be approachable, respectful and professional, and most importantly acting in the best interest of our children.   As a result of our experience here at OAK, we honestly believe and are proud to say that we are members of one of the best Clubs in Canada.  It certainly, is without a doubt the “best” fit for our Family.

As a family we value and respect the philosophical mission of OAK which states its intent to enable each swimmer to realize their individual potential (both in swimming and in life) and to endevour to place its swimmers on the national and international level.   We believe OAK has the ability to do this.   Our coaches work very hard and do a very good job building and developing character and integrity of our young swimmers.   Our coaches often do push hard, and set high expectations that have resulted in OAK achieving the great success that it has.   We appreciate the many opportunities that Oak has given our swimmers including the great friendships and the team experience for our kids and look forward to our future here at the Club.  We have seen the positive outcomes of when swimmer - coach- and parents work together.   LTD!

While this is the best club we found in Oakville and Burlington, our daughter had a lot of problem dealing with the peer pressure and screaming from the main coach (Melanie McKay). After two years, we have decided to move her to another club so, our daughter can start enjoying swimming again. It's a competitive swim club with methods that might not work for every kids. By the end, our daughter feared her coach and couldn't enjoy her sessions anymore. The coach is having the same approach with most of the kids which many parents have mixed feelings from discussing with them. In my opinion, athletes or just kids taking lessons of any kind will learn and enjoy better their session if their coach create a good environment for them to grow. A coach should be a role model, a leader and be respected. Not feared. Definitely a shame as this club could be a great platform for kids wanting to grow further into swimming.

A long overdue appreciation statement.  
 
We have been members of OAK for 4 years and have had nothing but a positive experience.  We have a very good understanding of the Club and its structure  as we have several swimmers in the family, who at one time or another, have swam as part of almost every group and level within the Club.   There are very few Clubs within Canada that are able to cater to such a wide range of swimming, from the very basic skills and fitness objectives to making the Olympic dream a reality.   Our eldest who has since retired from the competitive swimming regime has used her skills and gone on to become a gainfully employed Life Guard and Swimming Instructor within our community, while we have others chasing the highest of competitive potential, while our youngest seems to lie somewhere in between.

Oak coaches are second to none. We have interacted with almost all of the coaches within the Club at one point or other and have grown to trust them and their coaching abilities.  We have found them all to be approachable, respectful and professional, and most importantly acting in the best interest of our children.   As a result of our experience here at OAK, we honestly believe and are proud to say that we are members of one of the best Clubs in Canada.  It certainly, is without a doubt the “best” fit for our Family.  

As a family we value and respect the philosophical mission of OAK which states its intent to enable each swimmer to realize their individual potential (both in swimming and in life) and to endevour to place its swimmers on the national and international level.   We believe OAK has the ability to do this.   Our coaches work very hard and do a very good job building and developing character and integrity of our young swimmers.   Our coaches often do push hard, and set high expectations that have resulted in OAK achieving the great success that it has.   We appreciate the many opportunities that Oak has given our swimmers including the great friendships and the team experience for our kids and look forward to our future here at the Club.  We have seen the positive outcomes of when swimmer - coach- and parents work together.   LTD!