Final answer:
Softball, first started in 1887 in Chicago, has evolved over the years with official regulations and rules for the gear used and player safety measures. The sport typically uses balls of 10, 11, or 12 inches in circumference and has bat regulation of specific size and weight, along with helmet requirements in fast-pitch games.
Step-by-step explanation:
The game of softball was first started in 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. It began as an indoor game to help baseball players maintain their skills during the winter.
The strike zones in softball are considered to be the area over home plate that is between the batter's forward armpit and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural batting stance.
Official regulations for bats in softball state that the bat must be smoothly rounded and not exceed 34 inches in length, 2.25 inches in diameter, and 38 ounces in weight. No substances or devices to alter the bat's performance are allowed.
In fast-pitch games, all players are required to wear helmets for safety. The helmets must meet the standards set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).
Standard rules for softball were first developed in 1889 by George Hancock, who is considered the 'father' of softball. However, the official rules were further refined and standardized by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) in the 20th century.
The three sizes of balls used in softball are 12 inches, 11 inches, and 10 inches in circumference.
A batter can get a strike called on her in several ways including swinging and missing the ball, the ball being hit foul, or the ball passing through the strike zone without being hit.
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