The article discusses the concept of self-control and its role in physical education for students. The authors indicate that without the ability to competently monitor their well-being and physical condition, it will be quite difficult for a student to develop their physical qualities, even if they study under the strict guidance of a teacher. In this article, the authors suggest that the purpose of self-control in physical education is for the student to learn to independently analyze his state of health, gain the ability to determine at what moments he is able to continue the lesson, and at what moments he should finish, since without ability to overcome oneself becomes impossible to achieve a good result. The authors also identify a number of tasks of self-control. One of the effective options for controlling one's condition is a self-control diary, the approximate content of which the authors offer in this article. In this article, the authors consider options for worsening the state of the body, as well as various pain sensations, in which students are advised to reduce physical activity or even refrain from physical education for a while. The article concludes that the formation of self-control among students is an effective means not only for the development of physical qualities, but also for the prevention of various kinds of injuries and the prevention of diseases, as well as the education of such moral qualities as discipline and responsibility.