June 1956 in Landshut, Germany, the IAU supervises World and Continental crossbow championships in the two disciplines 10 m and 30 m Match.

30 meter Match-crossbow shooting is the IAU's premier discipline and championships entry lists regularly include many Olympic-class small bore and air rifle athletes.

Shooting takes place on enclosed outdoor ranges which are equipped with electrically driven match-crossbow target transport systems.

In the absence of permanent facilities, shooting can take place on temporary tented ranges using portable target systems.

At IAU World and Continental championships national federations can enter teams of three (3) competitors (of either gender) in two Categories; Open Class and U-21 Juniors.

And by taking part at IAU Cup matches, a nation can win two (2) additional Quota-Spots thereby increasing to five (5) the number of competitors that the federation concerned can register for the next years World or Continental Match-crossbow championships.

On the following day, the highest scoring competitors in the team events (Open Class and U-21 Juniors) will qualify to take part in the Individual championships.

If scores are tied after 10 Final shots the competitors concerned continue shot-by-shot until a winner is declared.

It’s a highly technical event which is appreciated by top-flight air rifle athletes and match-crossbow specialists alike.

Shooting takes place on indoor ranges equipped with electric target trolley system.

In the Individual events the eight (8) top scoring competitors in each category qualify for Olympic-style 10-shot finals to decide the medal winners.

Scherrer, then known as Gustav Schmid, was the first company to produce a proper match crossbow back in 1951.