The Rules for Using Ground Sheets

I lawn bowl in Canada and the weather is rarely conducive to the most comfortable bowling. The outdoor season is no more than 6 months, to begin with, and we have a good deal of wet weather as well as rather heavy early morning dew. Tournament authorities often require ground sheets. Some clubs I have played at, it seems, always use ground sheets for club play. They have many players who drop their bowls, so I sympathize with these greenkeepers. In my limited experience, groundsheets do prevent divots.

Despite their widespread use in Canada, it seems not everybody even among tournament players  knows the rules that pertain to groundsheets.  Since these rules may benefit beginning novices playing against more seasoned opponents, assertive beginners ought to know them. The conditions of play as issued by the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association make no reference to groundsheets so the relevant rules apply without modification. I quote from the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Second Edition. http://www.worldbowlsltd.co.uk/laws/Crystal_Mark_Second_Edition.pdf

1.3.12 Groundsheet: a rectangular piece of canvas or other suitable fabric placed temporarily on the surface of the green to protect it from any damage caused as a result of a player delivering the jack or a bowl.  The rear edge of the groundsheet should be placed at least 2 meters from the rear ditch and at least 25 meters from the front ditch (in line with requirements for placing the mat described in laws 19.1.1 and 19.1.5).

 19.1.5  If one or more groundsheets are to be used (outdoor play only), the following will apply:

19.1.5.1 
The Controlling Body should consult the nominated greenkeeper before deciding where the groundsheets will be placed. The position should be in line with law 1.3.12

19.1.5.2
The Controlling Body can make the decision to use ground sheets either before the start of play or at any time during play.

19.1.5.3
The groundsheets should be securely fastened to the surface of the green using flat-headed pins (or an equivalent) that do not stick up from the surface.

19.1.5.4
The groundsheets should stay in the same position until the end of the game or until the Controlling Body decides they are no longer needed. 

19.1.5.5
The mat line should be placed on the rear edge of the groundsheet.

The last two are the most significant sections for my consideration here. The groundsheets on any rink are not to be moved from the initial positions they have been placed in. These positions are not necessarily the same on each rink. Players are not to adjust the sheets on their rink. The mat is not to be moved forward on the groundsheet. Its front edge should always touch or slightly overlap the back edge of the ground sheet. Note particularly that the groundsheets are not to be moved forward in the same way the mat can be when playing without groundsheets. Neither can the ground sheet closer to the front ditch be taken up during play. Only the Controlling Body can order that all the ground sheets be taken up.

The effect of these rules is to simplify the game and this in general benefits less experienced players. When groundsheets are in play the controlling skip cannot order the mat brought forward. The mat position is fixed at the back edge of the groundsheet. The only way to change the condition of play is by throwing different lengths of jack from the fixed mat position.

It is the skips and only the skips who decide that a ruling is needed on a law. As a non-skip, all you can do is inform your skip of the appropriate Law of the Sport of Bowls. If your skip does not wish to take action that is the end of it. Don’t lose your concentration over it! If you are playing singles, then you are your own skip and you can stop the action and call for an umpire’s ruling. In this situation, the umpire’s decision is not final. Law 56.2.6 allows an appeal to the Controlling Body.

Although, you would be in the right, trying to enforce these rules regarding groundsheets at any time, will only distract you. Never make an issue of them, unless it is in a competition exceedingly important for you. Despite being correct, you may nevertheless be overruled by local authorities who will be embarrassed and likely to disfavor you. The most you may do is delay play or interfere with your opponent’s concentration. Certainly don’t let it interfere with your concentration. If you think it will say nothing. In friendly games, all you might do is casually mention to others on the rink that the laws are in fact such and such.