What is a Kick, Anyways?

No matter what professional sport you enjoy watching, one common point of contention is the process of reviewing potential goals and determining whether or not they're valid. Generally, rule books do a fair job of explaining what should be considered a legal goal and what shouldn't. In the end, everyone involved in the review process is human, and there's often going to be a bit of a gray area that requires personal interpretation.

Like many other pro sports leagues, the PWHL is not immune to these issues. One that seems to come up regularly is the question of whether a goal should be disallowed due to a potential kicking motion. We've seen this question come up a few times over the years, including most recently on December 7, when Marie-Philip Poulin's goal was called back.

So—what exactly is a kick, and what isn't? Let's see what the PWHL says.

Here's section 37.4 of the PWHL's rulebook:

Distinct Kicking Motion: Plays that involve a puck entering the net as a direct result of a “distinct kicking motion” shall be ruled NO GOAL. A “distinct kicking motion,” for purposes of Video Review, is one where the video makes clear that an attacking player has deliberately propelled the puck with a kick of her foot or skate and the puck subsequently enters the net. A goal cannot be scored on a play where an attacking player propels the puck with her skate into the net (even by means of a subsequent deflection off of another player) using a “distinct kicking motion.”

A goal also cannot be scored on a play where an attacking player kicks any equipment (stick, glove, helmet, etc.) at the puck, including kicking the blade of her own stick, causing the puck to cross the goal line. A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player’s skate who does not use a “distinct kicking motion” shall be ruled a GOAL. A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking players’ skate shall also be ruled a GOAL, as long as no “distinct kicking motion” is evident (see also Rule 49.2 - Goal).

This rule is reiterated in section 49.2, then summarized again in section 80.5:

Goals: Kicking the puck shall be permitted in all zones. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net with her skate/foot. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who kicks a puck that deflects into the net off any player, goalkeeper or Official. A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player’s skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal. A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking player’s skate shall be a legitimate goal as long as no distinct kicking motion is evident.

The following should clarify deflections following a kicked puck that enters the goal: (i) A kicked puck that deflects off the body of any player of either Team (including the goalkeeper) shall be ruled no goal; (ii) A kicked puck that deflects off the stick of any player (excluding the goalkeeper’s stick) shall be ruled a good goal; (iii) A goal will be allowed when an attacking player kicks the puck, and the puck deflects off her own stick and then into the net; and, (iv) A goal will be allowed when a puck enters the goal after deflecting off an attacking player’s skate or deflects off her skate while she is in the process of stopping. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who kicks any equipment (stick, glove, helmet, etc.) at the puck, including kicking the blade of her own stick, causing the puck to cross the goal line. Refer also to Rule 80.5 – Disallowed Goals.

Disallowed Goals: Apparent goals shall be disallowed by the Referee and the appropriate announcement made by the Public Address Announcer for the following reasons: (i) When the puck has been directed, batted or thrown into the net by an attacking player other than with a stick. When this occurs, if it is deemed to be done deliberately, then the decision shall be NO GOAL. A goal cannot be scored when the puck has been deliberately batted with any part of the attacking player’s body into the net; (ii) (iii) (iv) When the puck has been kicked using a distinct kicking motion; When the puck has deflected directly into the net off an Official; When a goal has been scored and an ineligible player is on the ice.

Like any rule book, that was a lot of words to get the point across. But how has it been practically applied in game action, and is it consistent and sensible?

The answer: sometimes.

No Goal: Marie-Philip Poulin, Dec. 7, 2025

The question here is - did Poulin kick the puck? Was there really a distinct kicking motion, or did she simply turn her foot and the puck deflected off of it?

No Goal: Hannah Bilka, Jan. 11, 2025

Hannah Bilka scored - or didn't - with 1:01 to play in the second period. Bilka's parked in front of the net, and an attempted pass from Susanna Tapani doesn't make it to Bilka's stick, but instead goes off her skate as she moves and goes in.

This was originally ruled a goal, but just as they were about to drop the puck on the next play, the Central Situation Room called it back.

No Goal: Emily Clark, December 31, 2024

On this no-goal, Emily Clark goes to the front of the net and, amid a scramble off a rebound, the puck ends up behind Raygan Kirk. On first glance, I had a hard time seeing this one, but the overhead view is perhaps the clearest—and this may be the most definitive of the three no-goals. You can very clearly see Clark making a kicking motion to move her skate towards the puck, which directly correlates to it sliding through the crease and in. This—in my opinion—is the type of play the rule was intended for.

Good Goal: Ashton Bell, April 26, 2025

On this good goal, the puck does goes in off Bell's skate, but it happens as she's moving towards the net as the play occurs. There is very clearly no distinct kicking motion, and there was no challenge on the play.

Good Goal: Rachel McQuigge, Feb. 16, 2025

Even McQuigge seems a bit unsure after this one, looking around before she starts to fully celebrate. The puck is bouncing and the attempted pass certainly deflects off her skate; even the broadcasters say she looks to be corralling the puck with her skate. A review determines it was not a distinct kicking motion, and it's a good goal.

We Don't Know, and Neither Does the PWHL

So what is a kick? What is a good goal? At what point does turning your skate as part of a play become a distinct kicking motion, and when doesn't it?

I don't have the answers, and unfortunately, it seems like the PWHL doesn't, either. Some of these calls have been quite inconsistent over the years, and it's challenging to figure out why one play is considered good, while another isn't. When it's not blatantly obvious, it's one big gray area and that leaves a lot of room for interpretation—maybe too much room.

The PWHL, the Central Situation Room, and the officiating crew needs to figure out a way to apply these rules consistently across games and goals. Figure out what counts as a kick and what doesn't. Does it matter if the player is moving versus stationary? If they turn their foot as part of the play, does that count, or no? It's the gray area where trouble starts to form and where frustration breeds - and the absolute last thing you want is for this to happen in a key game, deciding whether a team makes the playoffs, or in a playoff game, and for the final decision to be anything less than obvious and definitive.

Huge thanks to Natalia, TIG's New York Sirens beat writer, for helping me track down all of these goals/no goals!