In 1895, a group of Bowling enthusiasts established the American Bowling Congress (ABC). Under the aupices of this organization, Bowling equipment was standardised, and rules and regulations were drawn. The ABC determined the standard length for a lane and also initiated the rule that a player stepping over a foul line should be penalised.
Bowling has certainly come a long way since standardisation began. Today, more than one hundred million Bowlers take to the lane each year, making it the largest participated indoor sport in the world.
