specifics in Spear fighting combat

[Kineas]

My memory is that Athenian ephebe training was only instituted in the late 4th century, as I noted in my post. Is there any other source that speaks to hoplite training earlier?

I'm quite interested in the possibility that the trainers in various athletics also trained the hoplites, but so far, it looks more like a theory than anything substantial. Again, I'd be delighted to be shown otherwise.

I don't think you got the point of my probably overlong dissertation of the gaps. If the Spartans could counter march, then they had big gaps--at least as wide as an aspis, ie 34 inches or more. And as i said, they couldn't have closed their front at 100 meters from the enemy, because such a closing of frontage, even with a small army, would require reducing the width by 1500 feet over 500 files, or 750 feet over 250 files, which would be a very small phalanx but a crippling distance to close laterally. I regularly need to open and close skirmishers and I would never do it closer than 300 meters to the enemy--otherwise, somebody kills you while you're trying to change your spacing.
If this doesn't make sense, I'll try a diagram next!