What is steal (stl) in basketball?
A steal is credited when a defensive player legally takes the ball away from an offensive player, causing a change of possession.
How steal is recorded
Logged to the defender who caused the turnover, whether by intercepting a pass or stripping a dribbler. The offensive player is charged with a turnover on the same play.
Worked example from a box score
A line of 3 STL and 4 PF is worth a second look: the steals helped, but the fouls suggest some of the same gambles missed.
What a good steal looks like at youth level
One to two steals a game is a healthy youth number. Three or more is disruptive defence, provided fouls stay at two or fewer.
Why it matters for a youth athlete
Steals reward anticipation and active hands. Read them alongside fouls — a player gambling for steals and picking up reaching fouls is not helping the team defence.
PROSCORE logs steal inside the basketball season record and keeps it attached to your athlete — free for families.
Related terms
PROSCORE tracks every one of these automatically and keeps them attached to your athlete's season — free for families.