He may not play in a regular season game this year. He didn't play in one last year, either.

But being a member of the Butler Gold in the United Youth Football League means the world to Josh Montgomery — and his teammates.

Affectionately called “Bama” (for Montgomery, Ala.), Josh, 11, stands 5-foot-2 and weighs 201 pounds. The weight limit to play in the UYFL is 150 pounds.

Josh joined Butler Gold's team last year. His mother lives in Texas and he lives with his grandparents, Donna Savannah and Ken Tynan, Jr.

“My pap played semi-pro football until he was 45,” Josh said. “My dad played football, too. They wanted me to play football and I wanted to play because they played.”

His grandmother never signed him up before last year because she assumed he wouldn't be eligible.

“I'm the guilty one,” Savannah said. “Josh had always wanted to play, but I never believed he'd be allowed. When someone told me he wouldn't be turned away (last year), I took him to sign-ups.

“Before football, we couldn't even get him to walk. He rarely left the house, just sat around and watched TV.”

When he first joined football, Josh still struggled physically. After three days of heat acclimatization, “he couldn't even walk,” Savannah said. “I iced his ankles, he took an Epsom salt bath ... He missed practice the next day.

“That's the only practice he's ever missed.”

Josh has been coming to practice despite breaking his elbow in a bicycle accident recently. He has to have a cast on his arm until Sept. 14.

“I can still do drills. I'm just not allowed to tackle,” he said.

He spends much of the practice time walking laps around the field, whether it be with a coach or teammates. He runs with the team as well.

“Bama used to experience pain just walking,” coach Todd Simko said. “Now he runs with the team and completes those runs. He's come a long way.”

When the team does its running drill, two of the captains run at the front of the pack, the other two run at the back.

They make sure Josh isn't running alone.

“If he starts falling behind, I tell the other guys to go ahead, I'll stay back and run with Bama,” said Jake Stevens, one of the captains. “He's still one of us. He gives everything he has and never has a bad attitude.”

The team dances to music at practice at times with Josh leading the way.

“He's so much fun,” said Ethan Deless, another captain. “He motivates us. He's up here losing weight and we're here to motivate him.”

BAMFL president Lance Rihn also coaches the Butler Gold team.

“Bama is an inspiration to the team and they help motivate him,” Rihn said. “He's made many friends here.

“Football means everything to a lot of kids I've seen through the years. It gives a kid structure, confidence, work ethic ... Josh is a prime example of all of that.”

“His support system has grown so much,” Savannah said. “He's not a shy kid, but Josh has been somewhat introverted around certain people ... not so much anymore.”

Simko's goal is to get him in a game this year — preferably the UYFL's Super Bowl on Oct. 31.

Josh walks or runs a total of 10 laps each practice. He drinks 80 ounces of water and no soda each day and adheres to the team curfew rules at night.

“This isn't just about football. It's about physical health,” Simko said.

While he has lost some weight — Simko never tells him how much — Josh's body type has changed as well.

“The scale doesn't tell the whole story,” Savannah said. “He has gained muscle. His body is much more defined. He's clearly healthier and in better shape.”

Josh recognizes how much his football team has meant to his life.

He tears up when talking about it.

“Everyone here is so supportive,” he said. “The coaches, players, everybody. I made a few new friends last season and I've made twice as many this season.”

Because he has yet to turn 12, Josh is eligible to return to the Butler Gold next season. Entering seventh grade next year, he could opt for junior high football.

There is no weight limit at the junior high level.

“I'm hoping he's able to stay with us and play for us,” Simko said of next season. “Either way, he'll be playing football somewhere next year.”

And for a while.

“I'm not planning on giving it up,” Josh said. “My goal is to score a touchdown in a game. That would be cool.”