Kids go to football camp for several reasons.

It might purely be so they can improve themselves as players. But it also might be because you need a place for them to go while you work. Camp might provide the type of productive activity your child needs to stay out of trouble at home, or it might be just so they can be with their friends.

Regardless of the reason they are there, all parents anxiously await to hear about how much fun the first day was, if for no other reason than to justify the money they spent.

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But what happens when, after the first day, the first words from your child’s mouth upon arriving home are, “I hate camp and I’m not going back”?

You’re probably left speechless … and a little upset if your checkbook is in sight.

For some kids, they might be upset because they are away from home in a strange setting. 

It could also be due to an inferiority complex. The player who was the star on the team during the season might be one of the lesser-skilled campers.

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There also might be cliques at camp. Nobody likes to feel left out, and your child might just be frustrated not feeling part of the “in” group at camp. 

And then, of course, just like at school, there can be bullies.

Your child might eagerly tell you why camp stinks. Or maybe not. But regardless, it’s important for you to figure out what went wrong before sending your child back.

Talk to your children. Hopefully, they will tell you exactly what is upsetting them at camp. But if not, talk to other parents to see if their children complained.

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If you still can’t figure it out, try to watch from afar on the second day to see if you can determine what is bothering your child.

If it’s not better after the second or third day, you might have to intervene. This is especially true if it’s a camper or counselor who’s making your child miserable, or if they don’t like the types of drills that are being run or they want more scrimmage time. 

You probably paid good money to send your children to camp. You deserve for them to have a good experience. They deserve it, too.

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.