Has Netflix's Cheer made you want to try out cheerleading? You're not alone

Cheerleaders are often stereotyped as the epitome of American cheesiness — pompom-shaking, almost-always-blonde sideline decorations.

But new docuseries Cheer shows cheerleading is a sport in its own right, supported by a diverse and inclusive community, and it's here in Australia too.

Rosemary James is the head of the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation, which started 17 years ago with a few hundred registered competitors. Now, they have more than 60,000 across the country.

"When I discovered competitive-style cheering [known as 'all-star cheering'] in the States, I fell in love with it," Ms James says.

"After a good 10 years of promoting the sport for what it is, it finally got us to the stage we're at now."

So could cheer be the sport for you? Here's what you need to know about it.

It's tough

If you want a gentle stretch, cheer is probably not your thing — at least not at an elite level.

Think gymnastics crossed with acrobatics, choreographed dance and weightlifting.

"We call them tumblers rather than gymnasts — they tumble together to a beat all at the same time, so it's quite different to straight gymnastics," Ms James says.

It takes stamina, strength, focus, flexibility and even bravery (particularly if you're a flyer who is thrown into the air or required to balance atop a human pyramid).

It can also be dangerous. The stars of the Netflix series regularly need medical attention for everything from fractures to concussions, and they cite a 2012 report that found more than 70 per cent of catastrophic injuries (usually defined as spinal or brain damage) in US women's college sports between 1982 and 2009 came from cheerleading.

As Cheer star Morgan Simianer says: "Whoever thought of chucking someone into the air and seeing how many times they can flip, that person is psychotic, yet I'm the crazy person who does it."

However, Ms James says the injury rate for college cheer in the US has dropped dramatically in recent years, and in Australia the sport is considered extremely safe as it operates under different and strict safety guidelines.

"We only have educated, credentialled coaches in professional gyms in Australia," she says.

"Injuries for Australian cheerleaders are few and far between and not catastrophic."

It's inclusive

Ms James says the diversity in cheerleading is its greatest asset.

"The first time I saw it in the '80s, I just remember thinking, 'There are tiny girls, 6-foot girls, small guys, big guys, gay guys, black, white, everyone, and they're all in the mix'," she says.

"This is one sport where everyone is equal — male, female, no matter what colour, size, shape. That's what put me on a mission to get this sport into Australia."

The docuseries backs that up, profiling cheerleaders who are people of colour, LGBTIQ and from the full gamut of socio-economic backgrounds.

Ms James also says, despite the athleticism required at an elite level, there are roles for mixed abilities.

"You will become really important and significant within the team.

"You can't just replace someone in a cheer team because it's all choreographed, so that means everyone is valued.

"And you're never alone."

Its whole ethos is joy

The very definition of the word 'cheer' is:

1. A shout of encouragement, approval, congratulation.

2. Something that gives joy, encouragement, comfort.

Cheer star Jerry Harris has been dubbed a "human sunbeam" for his relentlessly positive 'mat talk' — that's words of encouragement yelled enthusiastically at your teammates.

Ms James says the cheerfulness of cheer comes naturally.

"The enthusiasm is just organic, it becomes quite emotional and beautiful," she says.

"The pride you feel, being with a team, constant encouragement, achieving goals all of the time, big and small, it just equals happiness."