ABSTRACTEighteen children referred to clinics because they lacked adequate motor competence and 18 well‐coordinated children were compared on measures of goal‐setting, self‐concept and locus of control. The results showed that the children with movement difficulties were unrealistic in the way they set goals for themselves, had lower self‐esteem and were less inclined to accept responsibility for what might happen to them. The three different measures of self‐regard did not, however, correlate with one another.