What does "failure to take the court" mean in netball?

"Failure to take the court" in netball specifically means that a team does not have the required number of players present to participate in the match. According to the rules, a minimum of five players is necessary for a team to be able to take the court. If a team cannot field at least five players, they are deemed to have failed to take the court, and this can result in forfeiture of the match. The emphasis on having five players ensures that the game can be played fairly and according to regulations, allowing for the necessary positions to be filled.

Options describing less than three players present do not accurately reflect the rules, as teams may still have some players available beyond disqualification. Being late for the match or delaying taking the court does not inherently suggest that the minimum player requirement hasn't been met, which is a critical aspect of the definition. Therefore, having fewer than five players present directly correlates with this term.