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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Realignment has been a major issue in college football. Now there will be major changes in high school football in Iowa.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Class 4A schools in the western portion of Iowa will switch from conference to district play next year. That means the CIML Metro conference; which includes Ottumwa, is now history.

The decision was made to help schools in the extreme western parts of the state like Sioux City and Council Bluffs; who have had trouble scheduling games due to distance. Schools on the east side of the state will still play in conferences.

Districts will consist of six teams and will be able to play schools outside of their class. There will be five district games and four non district games. Schools will submit lists of which programs they want to play.

What does it mean for Ottumwa? The Bulldogs will not play the Des Moines schools anymore in football. Ottumwa could end up playing closer cities like Oskaloosa, Fairfield, or Mount Pleasant; rekindling old rivalries before joining the CIML Metro Conference in 2000.

Ottumwa Athletic Director Tom Kopatich said there is still more work to be done.

"This proposal is going to go to the board in Boone, Iowa. They have to approve it. Once that's approved the next step will be to put together the districts. Then they'll start putting together the non-district games. So we've still got a long ways to go."

Ottumwa will still play in the CIML Metro in all other sports.