Article 2: The number of non-player personnel on each football team’s, side-line shall not exceed a total of eight (. This eight includes coaches, manager,
play counters, & water aids. Any coaching of players must be by a certified
coach. The Head coach will be held accountable for their sideline personnel
and all violations of this rule

In article 2 it calls out coaches separately from managers, play counters, and water aides. So I read it as you can have a total of 8 on the sidelines, they can include: coaches, manager, and play counters. "Coaching" of players must be by a certified coach. If you have a water boy/girl who is only filling waters and supplying the team with bottles, there not actually coaching a player. Same goes for a play counter. To me it plainly calls them out separately.

I think this is where the confusion comes in.

This is exactly how my staff has approached it. Myself, and our 4 coaches have our certs out at all times, but per the rule my play counter/team mom does not, nor does our water aide. Trust me they are not doing any coaching for our team. (one is my wife so she is more or less telling me to calm down the whole game lol)