Crossword Genius

Series of low very low grades deciding contests (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

runoffs

'deciding contests' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'series of low very low grades' is the wordplay.
'series' becomes 'run' (run is a kind of series).
'low very low grades' becomes 'fs' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'run'+'of'+'fs'='RUNOFFS'

(Another definition for runoffs that I've seen is " races to find resolution".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app