so players executing a tap never push the ankle/foot/shin?
didds
no, they don't, -- they tap it!
I don't really understand where you are all going with this, a push and a tap are quite clearly different.
eg he pushed the door, he tapped the door. they are quite different things.
NB I'm not trying to say ankle-taps are illegal, or course they are not, they are a long established, customary, legal part of the game, but not properly covered in the Law book.