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Who Is John Barker?

Who is John Barker?

 John Tiffany Barker was born in Milton, MA on July 2, 1925.  He received his secondary education at Weymouth High School where he played three years of varsity basketball and served on the Student Council.

 

After three years of service in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Radioman 2nd class in WWII, Mr. Barker enrolled in Springfield College, Springfield, MA.  There he earned his Bachelors Degree in 1950 and later his Master of Science Degree.  His Master’s thesis was titled “A Mechanical Analysis of the Two-Handed Set Shot in Basketball”.  While at Springfield he played four years of basketball under coach John W. Bunn.

 

Old Town High School in Old Town, Maine was Coach Barker’s first position as teacher of Social Studies and coach of basketball.  It was a banner year for the Old Town Indians.   They won the State of Maine championship and participated in the New England Basketball Championship at Boston Garden.

 

In 1956, Coach Barker accepted a coaching position at Spaulding High School in Barre, VT.  The following year a position opening at Hingham High School brought Coach Barker and his family back to the South Shore of Boston.  He was well loved and respected for the next ten years as a Physical Education teacher and basketball coach.

 

Coach Barker’s death, November 19, 1967 was deeply felt by his family, students teachers and friends.  It is an honor to his memory that the John Barker Basketball League continues in the traditions of good sportsmanship and hard work that he so valued.

About John Barker Basketball

 The John Barker Boys Basketball League is the organization that operates both the Town League and the Hingham Travel entries in the various pre-high school travel basketball programs.

The Town League "Youth Division" is for boys in Hingham in Grades 2 through 8. It is open to all that sign up as long as space is available. It does not have any “cuts”. The season runs from the beginning of December to the middle/end of March. All players are put on teams within each grade. Teams for early grades are determined by an evaluation. Grades 2 and 3 are mostly instructional and involve a practice/scrimmage on Saturdays for each team. Grades 4 through 8 are both instructional and competitive and involve a weekly practice and a Saturday game for each team. A champion for Grades 4 through 8 will be chosen for each team by a playoff. This league has an “equal playing” time rule. All games and practices are played in Hingham in assorted Town facilities. 

The Travel League is for boys in Hingham in Grades 4 through 8. This year, there are two travel teams for Grade 4 and at least 3 travel teams for Grades 5 through 8. Each team is limited to approximately 12 players. This means that it is not likely that all that wish to play can be accommodated. Players will be selected based on their performance at a tryout. “Cuts” will be made as necessary. The season will run from the beginning of December to the middle/end of March. All games will be on weekends. Half of the games will be in Hingham and the other half will be at surrounding towns. Everyone will play in every half of every game, provided they attend practices and adhere to team rules, but playing time may not be equal between all players. Actual playing time will be at the judgement of the coaches. Grades 4 and 5 will play an approximately 12 game schedule, not including playoffs, and Grades 6 through 8 will play an approximately 18 game schedule, not including playoffs. Each travel team will also have one or two practices per week. All travel team players are also required to participate in the Town League. 

The Town League High School Division is for boys in Hingham in Grades 9 to 12. It is an "intramural" type league that primarily accommodates team sign-ups but also attempts to accommodate individual (free agent) sign-ups if possible. It is open to all teams and individuals so long as space is available. Games are on Saturday nights. Limited pick-up play and team practice times are also available if possible. A champion is chosen by a playoff. 

The league also provides opportunities for qualified individuals in high school to referee games in the Town League Youth Division. Opportunities, however, are limited so not all qualified candidates can be accommodated.