Tradition can go a long way.

Jeff Tonini, Bill Schultz, Bob Greaves and Ralph McElhaney plan to see to that personally as head coaches of the four Butler Area Midget Football League varsity programs this season.

The league has existed since 1948 and has reconstructed its board and coaching staffs this year in efforts to give its players a memorable learning experience.

Tonini is taking over at Center Township after reaching the high school state finals three times in Maryland as an assistant coach. He grew up playing for legendary youth coach Harry Leyland and the South Side team in the BAMFL.

“I have two daughters, so my sole motivation is instilling a love for football with kids that goes beyond X's and O's,” Tonini said. “I learned a lot about life from Coach Leyland.

“I want these kids to feel what I felt, to be part of a big-time program. There's a lot of pride and tradition at Center Township.”

Tonini's grandparents lived next door to Leyland's house.

“I remember beating on his door when it came time to pass out equipment,” Tonini said. “I used to help Coach Leyland put equipment in his basement. As a little kid, I kept bugging him until he finally let me play.”

Schultz assisted under Randy Bowser at Butler City and Bowser will continue to help coach the team this year. Schultz joined the BAMFL board two years ago in hopes of helping the Butler City program.

“We've had a lack of numbers and my goal is to promote more interest from the kids,” Schultz said.

“I played for Center Township and loved this league. I want to help the kids learn football the way I did.”

Greaves returns as coach at Meridian, but is also serving as president of the league for the first time.

“My view is a little broader now,” he admitted. “We have 24 board members and they are all good, caring people.”

Greaves, who graduated from South Allegheny High School, first became involved with the BAMFL through the late George “Red” Slater, who coached Center Township for a number of years.

“I coached baseball with Red in Meridian. That's how I knew him,” Greaves said. “He swayed me over to football as well.”

McElhaney returns as a BAMFL coach for the first time in nine years. He is taking the reins at East Butler, where he coached from 1999 through 2003 before joining Garry Cathell's staff at Butler High School. He was defensive coordinator under Cathell.

“Honestly, I prefer to teach young kids,” McElhaney said. “This is the level I want to be. The kids are excited and energetic.

“This is all about teaching the fundamental skills and providing kids with a good football experience.”

McElhaney insists football is not dead in Butler.

“You hear talk today that kids don't want to play, that they're lazy,” he said. “But I always see a group of kids every year who put a helmet on and work their tail off for two hours every day. It's inspiriing. I want to help those kids.”

The BAMFL has 200 kids signed up so far this year. The league had 280 last year and has another signup period from 9 a.m. to noon July 21 at the Memorial Park locker room.

“We're on pace to at least match last year's numbers,” Greaves said.

The BAMFL's age 7-12 teams will join the United Youth Football League next year and play teams from other school districts. Varsity teams may play opponents from other districts as well.

“Some districts are losing junior high football teams to budget cuts,” Greaves said. “We're getting in contact with some of those areas as non-school teams may be formed there.

“We're interested in expanding play for our 13 and 14-year-olds as much as we can. We're trying to keep kids playing football for as long as they can.”

Each BAMFL organization features a varsity, junior varsity, mighty mite and flag football squad. Full coaching stasffs are being rounded out.

Here is a look at the four varsity head coaches in the Butler Area Midget Football League this year:<B>Jeff ToniniCoach: </B>Center TownshipCoached wide receivers-defensive backs at Butler High School from 1992-94 ... Coached high school football in Maryland from 1994-2006, winning state title with North County in 1995 and finishing state runner-up with Broadneck in 1997 and 2003 .... Played football at Butler High and with South Side in BAMFL.<B>Bill SchultzCoach: </B>Butler CityServed as assistant coach under Randy Bowser for six years with Butler City ... Played offensive and defensive tackle for playoff-bound 1990 Butler High School team ... Played three years of college football at Mercyhurst.<B>Bob GreavesCoach: </B>MeridianBAMFL’s lone returning head coach, guided Meridian to first league title in 19 years last season ... Has coached Meridian for seven years and has 18 years of youth coaching experience ... Played high school ball at South Allegheny and semi-pro for the North Hills Kodiaks.<B>Ralph McElhaneyCoach: </B>East ButlerGrew up in East Butler and coached BAMFL team there from 1999-2003 .... Assistant coach at Moniteau in 1981 and spent more than 15 years as varsity assistant at Butler High School. ... Coached freshman team at Butler under Jeff McAnallen.