The ever-changing Butler Area Midget Football League is changing again.

And getting bigger.

The organization has restructured its officers and has gained support from the Butler Lil’ Tornado youth grid program, which is placing its resources into the BAMFL.

“It’s an exciting time,” new BAMFL president Hank Leyland said. “This is about our community and doing what’s best for our kids.

“We’re all on the same page now and I see nothing but positive things moving forward.”

The BAMFL will continue to compete in the United Youth Football League, a travel circuit it joined last year. The Lil’ Tornado program had been a member of that league.

“We feel like we’ve achieved our goals of bringing travel football to Butler youths, focusing on fundamentals, character and serving a role as a feeder system for the high school program,” Lil’ Tornado president Bill Halle said.

“We like the direction Hank and the Butler Midget program are going in. We want the same things and, given the decades of history in that league, we’ve decided to throw our support into their program.”

The BAMFL has existed for 66 years. The Lil’ Tornado program ends its five-year existence as a separate youth football program.

Last year, the BAMFL had approximately 100 kids playing on tackle football teams in 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 age divisions. The Lil’ Tornado program had roughly 60 total kids playing on its three teams at those age levels.

The BAMFL has four vice-presidents: Chris Morrow (director of business), Jeff Tonini (director of athletics), Matt Friel (director of finance) and Bill Shultz (director of compliance).

Staff members have met with new Butler High School varsity football coach Rob Densmore.

“We’ve got more than 100 years of coaching experience on our staff,” Leyland said. “Coach Densmore is a big energy guy and he likes what we’re doing.

“Guys like Ralph McElhaney, Jeff Tonini, Chris Morrow, Bob Zavacky ... They’ve been coaching for a while.”

Morrow said the BAMFL will likely remain part of a travel league for years to come.

“Back in the 1950’s and 60’s, neighborhoods in Butler were growing and they all had a team,” Morrow said. “But times change and this is just another change our league is going through.

“Fortunately, this league has had a strong enough foundation to sustain these changes. This time, I think we’ll thrive from it.”

Morrow anticipates a couple of former Lil’ Tornado coaches joining the program.

Plans are for the BAMFL to field at least two teams at each age level in the UYFL this fall.

“We could have as many as three or four teams in each, depending on how our numbers develop,” Morrow said. “We’ll be prepared to adjust.”

The first registration date for the BAMFL is April 26. Signups will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the league’s locker room area at Memorial Park.

“We need to do signups earlier because the league likes to set its schedule early and we have to get an idea of what numbers we’re looking at,” Leyland said. “Some people think, because we’re in a travel league now, it costs more to play. That’s just not true. We have the cheapest registration out of everybody in that league.

“We’ve always had a great relationship with the city and I’m sure it’s going to stay that way.”