Was watching IU vs Minn Women's NCAA game today and saw referee Lisa Mattingly use a "kicking motion" with her leg to call a kick (also swirl for shot clock).
Is that SOP for that call? In FED, I never use that mechanic, just a plain old violation will do.

I don't think that the NCAA has an approved signal for a kicking violation.That said,I think that most officials will use the "kicking" motion to illustrate what they are calling,both in NCAA and FED. The "swirl" in NCAA is the official signal for a shotclock-reset.

In NCAA, no specific signal for kicking, but obviously a good, common-sense communication-tool.

The one-finger swirl IS an approved signal to signify resetting of the shot clock.

I understood the "swirl", but feel that kicks are generally seen by just about everyone in the place, am I am personally not partial to using that mechanic. JMO

Agreed. Been trying to "kick" that habit myself. :)

vebal signal is usually enough....

but in those "non-obvious" kicks, such as loose ball situations, and with loud gyms, etc, I don't think the occasional pointing-to-the-foot is a bad habit.