In order for a young man to be ready for marriage in a practical sense, he must be able and willing to support a family. This requirement normally delays any kind of romantic pairing off until the early twenties for young men and at least the late teens for young women. When young men and young women reach this age, they're far more likely to be both emotionally and practically prepared for a romantic relationship. When young people wait until the season of life when they can marry, through most of their teenage years they're free to be friends with members of the opposite sex without worrying about the pressures of romantic entanglements. Courtship frees young teens to see each other as potential friends rather than potential dates.
Many young people begin romantic relationships prematurely.
Courtship first of all requires young people to wait until they're old enough to emotionally and practically consider marriage before entering into a relationship. The second major operating principle of courtship is that there is no such thing as casual dating. Any date is undertaken with a mutual understanding between both of the young people and their parents that these young people are checking each other out with a serious belief that their relationship may lead to marriage. Two of my grown daughters will get married this year to the only boyfriends they've ever had. They have known dozens of guys because we encouraged all kinds of group activities where there have been a mixture of both sexes.