The Butler Area Midget Football League program is alive and well — and gaining steam.

Now entering its fourth year as a member of the United Youth Football League — joining Seneca Valley, Mars, Hampton, Pine-Richland, North Allegheny and Highlands — Butler’s varsity team is coming off a 5-3 season and its first-ever UYFL playoff berth.

“Having been a neighborhood league for so many years, it took us a couple of years to adjust to playing in a league as our own team, playing other area teams,” BAMFL President Chris Morrow admitted. “Now we’ve adapted and the improvement in our kids is very noticeable.”

The BAMFL program had two varsity and two junior varsity teams in the UYFL last year. It will have one of each this season.

Butler has 40 kids on its varsity team, 40 on its junior varsity and approximately 25 on its mites squad. The BAMFL also has a four-team flag football circuit for ages 6-8.

“Ultimately, our annual goal is to have two varsity and two JV teams in the league,” Morrow said. “This year, we thought it best to go with one of each.

“We offered a conditioning program to the kids during the April sign-up period, trying to get them to report to August camp in shape, ready to go. That seems to have worked out well.

“Having kids physically fit at the start of camp helps to avoid injuries,” Morrow added.

Bob Zavacky, a BAMFL coach for 30 years, is head coach of Butler’s varsity squad. Justin Miller is running the JV coach. Former high school varsity assistant coach Hank Leyland is back coaching at the midget level as well.

“There are solid guys coaching there with tons of experience,” Butler High School varsity head coach Rob Densmore said. “The best part is, when I came here, they didn’t tell me ‘this is how we do things.’

“They were receptive to me. They asked, ‘How do you do it? What do you want us to do?’ I was very appreciative of that.”

The BAMFL teams are running a 44 defense and the same offensive sets being run by coach Densmore with the high school team.

“Football fans watching Butler’s offensive and defensive schemes on Friday night will see those same schemes used by us on Saturday afternoons,” Morrow said.

Densmore and the other Butler High School varsity coaches put on a free Midget football clinic in May and approximately 40 kids participated.

“We also ran three coaching clinics for the youth coaches and 15 to 20 coaches came,” Densmore said. “We gave them our varsity playbook, showed them our drills.

“We’re keeping the system consistent throughout. There’s no doubt this will benefit Buitler High School football. We’re laying a good foundation.”

Morrow agreed.

“Coach Densmore is very much involved in what we’re doing at the Midget level,” he said. “The entire football program in Butler is streamlined now and that’s going to pay off down the road.”

Morrow emphasized that the cost of playing in the BAMFL program — $100 with a chance to get back $50 through a ticket raffle — is the lowest among UYFL programs.

“Some teams charge as much as $200,” he said.

Butler Midget Football 2016 Schedule

Varsity (138 pounds)

Aug. 20-at North Allegheny (Blueberry Park), 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 27-MARS (Memorial Park), 1 p.m.

Sept. 10-SENECA VALLEY (Memorial Park), 3 p.m.; Sept. 24-PINE-RICHLAND (Memorial Park), 3 p.m.

Oct. 1-at Mars (Mars Boro Field), 5 p.m.; Oct. 8-at Highlands (TBA), 7 p.m.; Oct. 15-at Hampton (Hamton High School), 5 p.m.

Junior Varsity (118 pounds)

Aug. 20-at North Allegheny (Blueberry Park), 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 27-MARS (Memorial Park), 11 a.m.

Sept. 10-SENECA VALLEY (Memorial Park), 1 p.m.; Sept. 24-PINE-RICHLAND (Memorial Park), 1 p.m.

Oct. 1-at Mars (Mars Boro Field), 3 p.m.; Oct. 8-at Highlands (TBA), 5 p.m.; Oct. 15- at Hampton (Hampton High School), 3 p.m.

Mites (98 pounds)

Aug. 20-at North Allegheny (Blueberry Park), 3:30 p.m.; Aug. 27-MARS (Memorial Park), 9 a.m.

Sept. 10-SENECA VALLEY (Memorial Park), 11 a.m.; Sept. 24-PINE-RICHLAND (Memorial Park), 11 a.m.

Oct. 1-at Mars (Mars Boro Field), 7 p.m.; Oct. 8-at Highlands (TBA), 3 p.m.; Oct. 15-at Hampton (Hampton High School), 1 p.m.