In round three you play three attempts each at the back rings left and right. How to prepare force and line, switch sides and avoid the typical mistakes.
In the target competition you play alone for points, and the third round is the one in which distance and side must be right at the same time. The honest answer to "Isn't that the same as round 1?": no. You are not playing into the middle of the target area but at back target rings, outer left and right, and thus at different distances and different lines.
The rules of the International Ice Stock Federation (IFI) fix it like this: in the 3rd round 3 attempts each into the left and then the right back target (ring fragments) are made. In the centre of the rings lies the Daube for all attempts. The innermost ring the stock reaches is scored: from outside inwards 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 points, at most 60 points [1].
A figure for perspective: the whole target competition consists of four rounds of 6 attempts each, all made on one lane [1]. Round 3 is therefore a quarter of your total result, and with at most 60 of 240 possible points a quarter of the total points.
The third round rewards whoever hits two targets with one running sole.
Entry criteria (practice standard):
You play 3 attempts left, then 3 right, each at a back ring fragment [1]. The Daube lies in the centre of the rings, the innermost ring reached is scored [1]. This is a measure attempt: you want to approach the Daube, not shoot it away.
Milestone: You explain to your coach how round 3 is scored without looking.
For the back rings you need a running sole with which you reach the greater distance without a show of strength. The textbook advises: after about 10 attempts at the middle rings you switch to the back ones, the first-chosen sole helps with finding it [2]. Playing both measure rounds with one sole is not recommended for beginners [2].
Milestone: With the chosen sole you hit the back rings without losing the landing.
After the attempts on the left you switch to the right. The textbook advises in the warm-up: 3 to 5 attempts left and 3 to 5 attempts right [2]. You stay central on the delivery spot and only turn the body into the line.
Milestone: You switch sides without changing foot or grip.
A typical beginner mistake in the target competition: after the last stock attempt (round 2) the first measure attempt into the back rings is played too far [2]. That comes from the change from high to low force. The textbook gives a saying for this: "It is harder to reduce the force for an attempt a little than to increase it a little." Aim for the first attempt: a 6 or 8 in front of the Daube [2].
Milestone: Your first attempt in round 3 lies in front of the Daube, not behind it, in 4 of 5 training sessions.
Wrongly executed attempts are valid but are scored 0 points [1]. There is no repetition. So: sequence always the same, then delivery.
Milestone: In ten practice rounds no attempt becomes invalid through a foot error.
In the target competition you stand alone on the lane, but not alone in the facility. The rules state: only players and officials may be on the competition lanes, nobody may be in the target area or behind it during delivery [1].
This guide explains and motivates, it does not replace supervised training.
Prepare the switch beforehand: in the warm-up play, after the stock attempts, deliberately play 2 to 4 attempts at the back rings before it counts. The textbook recommends exactly this switching [2]. And: play the last practice attempt as if it counted [2].
Six: three each into the left and the right back target [1].
From outside inwards 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 points, at most 60 points in the round [1].
For each player 8 minutes at the start [1]. The textbook gives ten minutes for U14 [2].
Wrongly executed attempts are valid and score 0 points [1]. If the player is not on the delivery spot or crosses the front line, the attempt is invalid and may not be repeated [1].
Reduce the force deliberately. The textbook says it is harder to reduce force than to increase it, and advises a 6 or 8 in front of the Daube for the first attempt [2].
Playing "Anstellen" in Team Play: Backing Up Your Own Stock From Behind