Sporty chill pill.

When competition on the football field heats up, so do the players--sometimes too much. Now, a temperature-tracking device can help players avoid becoming dangerously overheated.

"During intense exercise in the heat, body temperatures [can safely] range between 38.3[degrees]C (101[degrees]F) and 39.4[degrees]C (103[degrees]F)," says Douglas Casa, director of athletic training education at the University of Connecticut. "If temperatures rise much above that, we have to flag it." That's because soaring temperatures can lead to heat stroke, a potentially life-threatening condition.

To prevent a risky situation, the new pill-shaped device contains a tiny thermometer. Before a game, a player swallows the pill, which moves through the body to the intestines. There, it monitors the body's core temperature and sends a signal to a recorder outside the body. Coaches monitor the signal and pull players from the field if their temperatures climb too high.

Some NFL and college football teams are using the device to protect their players. That way, they can beat the heat, as well as the competition.